The gateway of Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, Rohtang Pass experienced another spell of snowfall. Delaying the road clearing operation on the Manali-Leh highway, which could not be opened for vehicular traffic so far due to frequent snowfall, meanwhile inclement weather did not relent the state as it had light rain and snowfall on high reaches early this morning today.
BRO could not meet the target to open this pass by April 15 which is now postponed to April 25. After fresh snowfall and prevailing western disturbances for next two days, it is likely to further delay the snow clearing operations and a district administration is yet relaying on emergency helicopter service to lift the citizens and employees from the Lahaul valley, Keylong based official said.
Rohtang Pass remains officially closed from November 15 to April 15 annually due to heavy snowfall on the pass, which was being open by the BRO soon after fading away of winter, but due to prolongation of season this year it is being delayed.
The state still has chilly weather as it was partly cloudy.
Shimla experienced about 5 mm rainfall early this morning. Gaggal Airport in Kangra district and Sundernagar in Mandi district had 12 mm and 1 mm rainfall respectively. Night temperature of Manali was confined to 5 degrees and Shimla 8 degrees. Rising day temperature is likely to decline in the state again as meteorological department forecast more rain or snowfall on the isolated places in the high reaches and rain or thundershowers at middle parts and foothills in next two days.
The inclement weather especially frequent hailstorms had already caused heavy loss to the coming up apple crop which is in peak of flowering and fruit setting period, moreover, repeated hailstorms are looming danger on the further prospect of crop. Similarly un-timely rain and rough weather conditions are also considered harmful for harvestation of Rabi crop in middle and foothills, agriculture experts said.
