As many as 104 roads and three national highways were blocked and normal life in Himachal Pradesh was disrupted on Saturday (April 20) as higher reaches experienced snowfall and mid to lower hills were lashed with rain, officials reported.
Vehicular movement to Keylong was suspended due to a massive landslide at the Selfie Point near Sissu on the Manali-Keylong highway, officials stated.
Road network disrupted in Himachal
According to the state emergency operation centre, 104 roads, including 99 in Lahaul and Spiti, are closed due to snowfall. Roads like Gramphu-Losar, Darcha-Sarchu, and Rohtang Pass were blocked in Lahaul and Spiti.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has deployed personnel and machinery to clear the blockades, with traffic expected to resume within the next two to three hours, said a BRO spokesman.
IMD issues yellow alert for rain, snow
The local meteorological station issued a yellow warning of thunderstorms at isolated places on April 22 and 23, with forecasts of rain in mid hills and rain and snowfall in higher reaches for the next six days from April 21 to April 26, as a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from April 22.
Koksar received 19 cm of snowfall, followed by Gondla with 16.5 cm, Keylong with 8.5 cm, and Kukumseri with 2.4 cm, according to weather data.
In mid and lower hills, Bharmaur and Chamba recorded the highest rainfall with 25 mm, followed by Tissa with 24.3 mm, Solan with 24 mm, and Rajgarh with 20.4 mm. Shimla and its surrounding areas experienced intermittent rain accompanied by lightning and remained heavily overcast.