Shimla : Heavy to moderate snowfall continued for the second day in Himachal Pradesh Saturday even as more snow is forecast during the next two days .
Life came to a standstill in the state capital Shimla as the entire town wore a white mantle delighting locals and tourists .
Shimla experienced the coldest night of the season with the mercury dipping to minus 1 Celsius , freezing water pipes at a few places .
Icy winds snapped power cables at a some places causing power failures in the resort town .
Vehicles were stranded at many places in the higher parts of the town . People were forced to walk to their work places . Attendance was poor in government offices .
Many parts of Shimla district have experienced heavy snowfall with all roads blocked . The Hindustan Tibet Road was closed for traffic for the second day with fresh snowfall in the ski resorts of Kufri and Narkanda .
The adjoining wooded resort of Chail was also under a blanket of snow . Manali a popular resort town in the Kullu valley had yet another spell of snowfall .
The Dhauladhar ranges overlooking the Kangra valley and the adjoining Chamba valley experienced snowfall .
The snowfall was unusually heavy in Dharamsala . It also snowed lower down in Kangra town. Nurpur saw snow after 45 years while the temple town of Chintpurni in Una district experienced snowfall after 50 years shocking people.Reports said there were sleet and stray snow flakes were even seen in Hamirpur district .
The sprawling tribal belt of Kinnaur , Lahaul & Spiti , Bharmaur , Pangi and Dodra Kwar saw heavy snowfall completely paralysing life in these remote areas .
Power failures have been reported at many areas in the state .
“More snow is expected in the state next 48 hours ,†said Manmohan Singh the head of the Indian Metrological Department here.
Unlike neighbouring Jammu & Kashmir , Himachal had to wait long for the season’s first heavy snowfall this time .
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.
Record Breaking snowfall..
Never expected to this to happen in Una district!!
chintpurni,daulatpur areas all undr snow covr.. :))
it was funtstic kindness of god
yaaaaaaaah huuuuuuuuu una main snow fall