• Weather alert: 168 roads closed as rains lash parts of Himachal, fresh snowfall in Kashmir

    National
    Weather alert: 168 roads closed as rains lash parts of Himachal, fresh snowfall in Kashmir
    After heavy snow, traffic at the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, close to Manali, stopped. In the last 24 hours, there has been 5 cm of snow in Kalpa and Kukumseri and 3 cm in Keylong.


    Digital Desk: Higher reaches and tribal areas received fresh spells of snow while the low and middle hills were lashed by intermittent hail and rain on Saturday as the local MeT office predicted wet spells in Himachal Pradesh till April 4. 

    An official stated that no casualties were recorded when a Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus skidded in the snow on Saturday morning and turned into a turtle near Maling in the Kinnaur district.

    After heavy snow, traffic at the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, close to Manali, stopped. In the last 24 hours, there has been 5 cm of snow in Kalpa and Kukumseri and 3 cm in Keylong.

    According to information from the state emergency operation center, 168 roads—including three National Highways—were off-limits to cars on Friday night in the state. In Lahaul and Spiti, where 159 routes have yet to be opened, the majority of these roads are situated in rugged terrain. 

    In Shimla, the state capital, and a few other locations, there were sporadic downpours accompanied by lightning and strong winds; in Solan, a hailstorm made traveling challenging. 

    An orange warning of thunderstorms with lightning, hail, heavy rain, and gusty winds (40–50 kmph) was issued by the local MeT office on Saturday in seven of the state's twelve districts.