Himachal: 279 roads, 4 national highways shut amid snow & rain

Following the recent snowfall and rain, at least four national highways along with 279 roads have been closed for vehicular traffic in Himachal Pradesh. 

 

However, it was a dry day on Friday for the state. Manali received traces of snow in the past 24 hours, the MeT said on Saturday, adding a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan region from the night of March 20.

 

About 96 per cent of the total roads are blocked in the high altitude and tribal areas, and a maximum of 249 roads were closed in Tribal Lahaul and Spiti, 11 in Chamba, and nine in Kinnaur on Friday night.

 

Four roads are blocked each in Kullu and Mandi, one each in Kangra and Shimla, as per the state emergency operation centre. As many as 246 transformers are out of order and three water supply schemes are disrupted.

 

There was no significant change in the minimum temperatures and Keylong at minus 7.7 degrees Celsius was the coldest at night while Kukumseri recorded a low of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius.