Narkanda, 60 km from Shimla, turns white on Saturday. Tribune photo

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 12

The higher reaches and tribal areas experienced fresh snowfall while the mid and lower hills were lashed by intermittent showers and hailstorm.The widespread rain and snowfall in the region reduced the winter rain deficit between January 1 and March 12 from 50 per cent to 17 per cent. More rain is predicted in the next two days.The rain caused landslides in the interior areas, blew off roofs and uprooted trees at some places in Kangra, Sirmaur and Mandi districts. Traffic was halted in the interior areas of Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and Shimla.The Rohtang Pass recorded 90 cm of snow while the Dhauladhar range in Kangra and Churdhar range in Sirmaur have turned white. It has been snowing there since yesterday.Keylong in the tribal areas recorded 35 cm of snow while Kalpa, Bharmaur, Kothi and Hansa received 12 cm, 11 cm 10 cm and 5 cm of snow. Narkanda, Kharapatthar, Sangla and Chitkul also received fresh snowfall.Fresh snowfall in upper Manali and Rohtang has hampered the clearance operation on the Manali-Rohtang-Leh road. Two women were injured when a tree fell on their house near Palampur while a storm hit Pachhad and Sarahan in Sirmaur district.Bharmaur received 150 mm of rain while key tourist resorts of Dalhousie and Manali received 91 mm and 82 mm of rain followed by Hansa 76 mm, Saloni 75 mm, Kothi 71 mm, Dharamsala 58 mm, Shimla 45 mm, Jogindernagar 42 mm, Bangana 40 mm, Kangra 39 mm, Bhuntar, Sujanpur Tira 38 mm and Solan 32.5 mm.The Met Department has predicted heavy rain, thunderstorm and squall at isolated places in the mid and higher hills tomorrow and rain/snow in the region over the next three days.Kangra highway inundatedThe state highway passing through this temple town was flooded today following heavy rain and lack of proper drainage system near the old bus stand.Kangra experienced 30 mm rain in the past 24 hours, leaving the state highway inundated. Residents gathered at the spot and protested the non-availability of a proper drainage system. They raised slogans against the administration. — OCAvalanche warning in Kullu, ChambaAn avalanche warning has been issued for the higher areas of Himachal Pradesh. People have been advised to stay away from these places over the next 24 hours. The advisory has been issued by the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). ‘Medium danger’ avalanche warning exists in areas of Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Chamba and Kinnaur districts. — PTI

Rainfall

• Shimla 45 mm
• Manali 82 mm
• D’sala 58 mm
• Solan 32.5 mm