Parts of Himachal Pradesh, including Jakho peak in Shimla and adjoining areas of Kufri, reဣceived fresh snowfall on Friday, leading to a margi💙nal increase in tourist footfall in the state capital, officials said.
The higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh witnessed light to moderate snowfall while intermittent rains occurred across thജe state under the influence of western disturbances, lea𒊎ding to the closure of 380 roads, they said.
The occupancy in hotels is expected to rise from the current 50 per cent to 70 to 80 per cent by Saturday as the snowfall is likely to increase the tourist rush on the weekend, said P𝔉resident of Tourism Industry Stakeholders🎐' Association M K Seth.
Jalori Jot and Rohtang Pass in🎃 Kullu received over 60 and 45 cm of snow while the south portal of the🎐 Atal Tunnel and Chansel each witnessed 30 cm of snowfall.
Chaurdhar and Dodrakwar recorded 25 cm of snow, Khadrala 16 cm, 🦩Manali 11 cm, and Jakho peak in Shimla and adjoining areas of Kufri received three to 10 cm of snow.
Manali, Gohar and Tinder received 16 mm, 11 mm and 8.3 mm of rain followed by Nahan and Bhuntar each logging 5.7 mm of rainfa𓆉ll.
National Highway 3 and 305 were blocked at Rohtang Pass and Jalori Pass wh🦋ile the Gramphu to Lossar stretch of National Highway 505 was also closed due to heavy snow.
As many as 182 roads were closed for vehicular traffic in Lahaul and Spiti, 68 in Shimla, 53 in Kullu, 29 in both Mꦯandi and Kinnaur, 14 in Chamba, three in Sirmaur and two in Kangra districts.
The local meteorological office has predictedꦗ a wet spell in the region till January 26 with light rain and snow at isolated places on January 21 and 22 and light to moderate snow at many places 🐼in mid and high hills on January 23.
The weather has brought cheers to to💎urists and hoteliers as well as apple growers pinning their hope bumper produce.
However, normal life was affected in several p🌄arts of due to normal to medium rains since Thursday night.
People were forced to remain indoors and had to wrap꧟ themselves in layers of heavy woolens to protect themselves from the cold wave.
The showers h𓃲ave been a saviour♍ for Rabi crops that had started to wither for want of rains.
Key tourist resorts of Narkanda, Kufri, Dalhousie, Manali, Shimla, K🌳asauli and Dharamshala recorded a maximum temperature of minus 1.8 degrees, 0.8 degrees, 1.5 degrees, 1.8 degrees, 🐽4.1 degrees, 6.6 degrees and 9 degrees Celsius.
