Manali: Seasonal snow is an important part of Earth’s climate system. Snow cover helps regulate the temperature of the Earth’s surface, and once that snow melts, the water helps fill rivers and reservoirs in many regions of the India, snow cover is the largest single component of the cry sphere, covering, snow cover helps regulate the exchange of heat between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere, or the Earth’s energy balance
After a heavy spell of snow fall in Manali ,Temperature in the border areas of Manali dipped significantly lower and bringing the movement of traffic to a grinding halt in many areas of the Manali and severely affecting normal life.
The famous Kullu- Manali and link roads in the district have been closed due to a heavy spell of snow. As a result, the local administration on Wednesday deployed officials with heavy equipment to clear the road and restore movement of traffic.
Even as the skies cleared on Thursday after the season’s heaviest spell of snow so far on Wednesday, normal life in Manali continued to remain paralyzed as power and water supply remained affected in several parts of the state.
National highway and other link roads were blocked and the administration pressed men and machinery into service to restore essential services.
SDM of Manali Raman Garsangi said that efforts are on to clear roads and restore essential services.
He said five JCB machines and robot have been pressed into service to clear the municipal corporation roads in the town
“Hospital roads are being cleared on priority,” said Raman.
Many electricity transformers have also malfunctioned, affecting power supply in Manali and remote far-flung areas.
Freezing cold has led to water scarcity in many areas.
The higher reaches and middle hills in the Manali region have experienced heavy snowfall, while low-lying areas were slashed by incessant rains.
The temperatures in the state plummeted several notches below normal. Manali shivered at minus 7.8 and solang nullah at minus 5.2 degrees Celsius.
According to Met department the weather will remain dry for two days. The state will received another spell of snow and rains from January 12 onwards as a fresh western disturbance approaches the region.
Sanjay Dutta, an engineer by qualification but is a journalist by choice.
He has worked for the premier new agency Press Trust of India and leading English daily Indian Express.
With more than a decade of experience, he has been highlighting issues related to environment, tourism and other aspects affecting mountain ecology.
Sanjay Dutta lives in a village close to Manali in Kullu valley of Himachal.
