Shimla is bereft of snow cover this year

By Vishal Gulati, Shimla, Jan 26 : Call it the effect of global warming, deforestation or rise in pollution, the Queen of Hills, as Shimla was fondly called by the British, is totally devoid of snow cover in this peak winter month of January.

For the second year in a row, the town, situated at an altitude of 2,130 metres, is bereft of its traditional white blanket.

"Like the previous year, this year Shimla recorded just one mild spell of snow this month (Jan 13) and that too melted within a few hours," Manmohan Singh, director of the Shimla meteorological office, told IANS.

"The prolonged dry spell is a matter of concern. The average temperature of the town is five to six degrees above average for this time of the year. The sudden rise in day and night temperatures reduces the chances of snowfall," he said.

Shimla saw a low of 5.3 degrees Celsius Sunday. The maximum was 16.9 degrees.

"Almost during the entire month (January), the maximum temperature hovered between 14 degrees and 17 degrees Celsius. This used to be the temperature in the month of March," Singh added.

According to records of the meteorological office, the town saw 50 to 60 cm of snow Jan 31, 2004, which was the heaviest snow on a single day in the past 14 years in the month of January.

Mount Jakhu, the highest peak of the town, had recorded 60 cm of snow. Moreover, the state capital received more than 100 cm of snow in the same year in January after a gap of 22 years. The town saw 137 cm of snow during this month in 1982.

This year Shimla has so far recorded just 8.2 cm of snow this month. In 2009, the town saw just one spell of snowfall in January and that too was a mild one. However, in 2006, there was snow in this month.

State Council for Science, Technology and Environment joint member secretary R.K. Sood recalled that once in the 1960s, the minimum temperature of the town had plunged to minus 13 degrees Celsius.

"The temperature remained below freezing point for days together from December to February. Interestingly, most of the north Indian towns located in plains are colder than Shimla these days," he said.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said there has been a noticeable change in the snowfall pattern in Shimla in the past few years.

"The hills across the state are warming up faster mainly due to change in building architecture, deforestation and vehicular pollution," said Dhumal, who also holds the environment portfolio.

"Now, the people have started using tin roofs in buildings in lieu of slate. The tin that absorbs greater heat is more responsible for heat accumulation in the atmosphere. Moreover, the people have started using modern gadgets to warm up their buildings; that is also one of the reasons for the rise in temperatures," he added.

R.S. Chauhan, a retired octogenarian settled in the town since 1960, said: "Earlier, the residents of this hill town used to migrate to plains with the onset of winter. Now, more and more people are coming to the town to enjoy holidays. The influx of tourists is more responsible for the deteriorating environment."

He said: "The government should monitor the arrival of the tourists, especially during weekends."

According to representatives of the hospitality industry, around 50,000 tourists reach Shimla and its nearby areas on an average weekend.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)