Following consecutive days of moderate to heavy snowfall in various parts of Himachal Pradesh, officials reported the closure of 504 roads, including four national highways, in the state for vehicular traffic. Shimla experienced a brief spell of snowfall on Saturday bringing delight to residents and tourists. The city and its surrounding areas witnessed intermittent snowfall with overcast skies, as reported by news agency PTI


On Sunday, the weather office forecast significant snowfall in isolated areas of the state. A "yellow" alert for thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas on Saturday and for thunderstorms, lightning, and a hailstorm with heavy snow in isolated areas on Sunday has been issued by the local MeT station.



The state witnessed moderate to heavy snowfall in several areas on January 31 and February 1. 


According to the state emergency operation centre, Shimla has the highest number of blocked roads with 161, followed by Lahaul and Spiti with 153, Kullu with 76, and Chamba district with 62. Additionally, 674 transformers and 44 water supply schemes have been disrupted.


PWD officials assured that road clearing operations are in full swing to clear snow from the roads as soon as possible.


While minimum temperatures rose slightly, they remained below normal, contributing to persistent intense cold wave conditions in most parts of the state. No snow or rain was reported from any part of Himachal Pradesh in the past 24 hours.


Kukumseri recorded the coldest temperature at night with minus 8.1 degrees Celsius. Other locations such as Narkanda, Kalpa, Dalhousie, and Manali experienced temperatures of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, minus 3.7 degrees Celsius, minus 3.1 degrees Celsius, and minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, respectively. Shimla recorded a minimum night temperature of 1.8 degrees Celsius.


According to an agriculture department spokesman, farmers and growers who lost crops because of an extended period of dryness are expected to profit from the wet spell, which will be good for Rabi crops, reported PTI.


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