Life all over Himachal Pradesh has been brought to a sudden standstill as severe and uninterrupted snowfalls hit the entire state, making transporting people, power and water impossible. The poor weather has kept thousands stuck, blocking roads and power supply, cutting off many areas and leading the authorities to issue high alerts.
Transport gridlocked: More Than 885 Roads Blocked
The immediate and most visible effect of the heavy snowfall is the state's road network. Over 885 roads across Himachal Pradesh as of Thursday morning have been rendered impassable. Important arteries linking important towns and tourist spots are covered with thick layers of snow, trapping residents and isolating areas from roads or water entirely.
- Lahaul and Spiti are the worst hit, where almost all its internal roads and highways heading into the area are completely blocked.
- It is a severe problem especially in high elevation zones Kinnaur, Chamba, Kullu and Shimla where the depth of the snow is over several feet.
- PWD is working to remove the snow but there continues to be snow and difficult terrains are limiting progress.
Power Grid and Water Supply Severely Compromised
Heavy snow events have also brought a heavy toll on basic utilities.
Electricity Supply: More than 1,000 electricity transformers are damaged or non-functional, due to the unusually severe weather. This plunges significant parts of the state into darkness. It’s more acute in rural areas and remote villages, where residents are suffering lengthy-term power cuts. Repair crews are already battling to get into damaged infrastructure on snow-covered roads in treacherous conditions.
Water Supply: It has also affected water pumping stations and water distribution lines due to freezing temperatures and power supply disruption. Many regions are now reporting serious water supply disruptions, further impoverishing the people. The authorities are racing to restore services, focusing on critical areas and hospitals first.
Normal Life Was Disrupted: Schools were canceled and tourism suffered
Normal life has been severely disrupted state-wide. Schools and colleges in many of the districts, including Kullu, Shimla, Chamba and Kangra, are still closed with the local governments prolonging winter holidays or declaring temporary ones as temporary holidays due for the winter months to come.
It has devastated the typically dynamic tourism industry. Whilst fresh snow hits at the beginning draws visitors, the harsh weather has produced advisories against nonessential travel. In some locations, the tourists stranded and rescue operations are already being arranged for those in remote areas.
It advised the residents to stay indoors, not to drive there for a long time and help avoid extreme cold.
Weather outlook and emergency measures
The Meteorological Department has estimated ongoing snowfall of the upper reaches and rainfall lower reaches for the next 24-48 hours, suggesting that relief may not materialize till the next day. State disaster-management officials have moved quickly, coordinating with other departments to respond and restore normalcy. We have set up emergency helplines, and sent essential supplies to the impacted communities.
