PrashantNews
Tourists were being evacuated as hills of north India recorded the heaviest snowfall of the season since Friday, met department said on Saturday.
In most of the hill stations like Srinagar in Kashmir valley, Shimla and Manali in Himachal and several areas in Uttarakhand, the life remained paralysed due snowfall. In several areas like Gulmarg and Kullu in Himachal, tourists were being evacuated.
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall. Kashmir is currently experiencing chillai-kalan, the harshest period of winter.
According to police, the SDRF personnel have been put on alert in Uttarakhand following rains and snowfall in various areas including Chakrata, Dhanaulti and nearby areas of Mussoorie.
After a brief spell of snowfall early this week, yet another western disturbance (WD) built up triggering lots of snow and rains in Uttarakhand including tourist resorts like Chakrata, Harsil, Auli and Munsiyari.
“The areas above 3000 meters have experienced nearly one foot of snowfall,” said Bikram Singh, Director Met office Dehradun.
An IMD forecast also said thunderstorm accompanied by hailstorm also likely over southeast Himachal, Uttarakhand, , Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on Saturday.
Trains and air services were also being disrupted in Srinagar and other areas of north India.