Shimla, February 28- In Himachal Pradesh, cold has regained its grip in the plains along with the hills due to snowfall and rain during the last 24 hours. Due to fresh snowfall and rain, more than two hundred roads have been closed in Himachal and essential services like power and water have been affected. Many areas of Kullu, Lahore and Spiti, Kinnaur and Chamba districts have been cut off from the rest of the state.
Heavy snowfall continues in Dodra-Kawar of Shimla district and all the roads coming into the valley have been closed. Educational institutions will remain closed today in many districts like Lahaul and Spiti and Chamba. Orange alert has been issued for light to moderate snowfall at many places. Very heavy snowfall and heavy snowfall at one or two places is likely in Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti districts and higher reaches of Chamba, Shimla, Mandi, Sirmaur, Kangra and Kullu Manali.
In most other parts of the state, an orange alert has been issued for light to moderate rainfall in the next few hours. Shimla received continuous rain last night. A yellow alert has been issued for more rain and light snowfall in the city and adjoining areas. All educational institutions in Shimla will remain open.
National Highway 5 (Hindustan Tibet Road) near Narkanda in Shimla district was closed due to landslides after heavy snowfall. Officials said that traffic has been diverted from Sainj to Shimla via Luhri/Sunni. A total of 12 roads are closed in Shimla district.
People are in a panic due to the threat of flash floods in Tosh village of Manikaran valley in Kullu district due to the formation of an artificial lake in the Jira Nallah. Officials said that people living downstream along the Nallah have been evacuated and shifted to safer places.
The risk of avalanches has increased in Himachal Pradesh after fresh snowfall. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba, Kinnaur and areas above 2,300 metres. This alert will be valid till 5:00 pm on February 28. The Meteorological Department has warned of avalanches in high altitude areas. The Lahaul and Spiti Police have advised the general public to avoid unnecessary travel and avoid going to high altitude areas in view of the possibility of avalanches.
The local Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert of heavy to very heavy rain and snowfall at isolated places in Mandi, Kangra, Kullu and Chamba districts on Thursday and Friday. The department has predicted heavy snowfall in Lahaul and Spiti and heavy rain and snowfall in Shimla district. Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest last night, where the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, while Nahan was the warmest during the day, where the maximum temperature was 23.2 degrees Celsius.