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Dharamshala & Manali Blanketed in Snow; Tourists Delight, Roads Blocked

Dharamshala and Manali in Himachal Pradesh were transformed by heavy snowfall, creating picturesque scenes that delighted tourists and residents. The India Meteorological Department reported temperatures as low as -0.4°C in Manali, with Dharamshala at 5.2°C. Due to the severe weather, 535 roads including four National Highways were closed across the state, prompting large-scale clearance operations. The Public Works Department has deployed 264 machines and estimated the loss from the snowfall at ₹6.03 crore.

Key Points: Heavy Snowfall Hits Dharamshala, Manali; Roads Closed in Himachal

  • Dharamshala receives heavy snowfall
  • Manali records sub-zero temperature
  • 535 roads closed across Himachal
  • ₹6.03 crore estimated loss from snow
  • Large-scale clearance operations underway
2 min read

Himachal: Dharamshala and Manali receives heavy snowfall; tourists rejoice

Dharamshala and Manali receive heavy snowfall, delighting tourists. Over 500 roads closed in Himachal Pradesh as clearance ops continue. IMD reports temperatures.

"We are enjoying it right now...bring everything you can, such as shoes and all; it is only going to come in handy. - Tourist from Chandigarh"

Dharamshala, January 24

Dharamshala turned breathtakingly white after receiving heavy snowfall on Friday, with vehicles and houses covered in a thick blanket of snow.

Tourists and residents showcased excitement over the picturesque scene, bundling up to enjoy the cold.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Dharamshala recorded a minimum temperature of 5.2°C, while Manali recorded a maximum temperature of 9.8°C and a minimum of -0.4°C.

A tourist from Chandigarh expressed delight over the snowfall in Dharamshala and emphasised the need to prepare for extreme cold for people travelling to the area, saying, "We are enjoying it right now...bring everything you can, such as shoes and all; it is only going to come in handy."

Earlier, as many as 535 roads, including four National Highways, were closed across Himachal Pradesh due to heavy snowfall while large-scale snow clearance operations were underway, the Public Works Department (PWD) said on Friday.

According to an official brief from the State Disaster Management Authority, a review meeting on snow clearance was chaired by the Engineer-in-Chief, HPPWD, through video conference with all Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers, directing them to ensure time-bound restoration of roads in snow-affected areas.

The PWD said 264 machines, including 78 departmental JCBs, 128 hired JCBs, 18 robots, 10 dozers and 30 tippers, have been deployed for snow clearance operations across the state. Officers posted in snow-affected areas and proceeding on leave were also directed to immediately report back to duty.

The estimated loss due to snowfall has been pegged at ₹6.03 crore, the department said.

In Shimla city and surrounding areas, heavy machinery was deployed on key routes, including the Tutikandi-Mehli, Mehli-Fagu, Fagu-Narkanda and Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti National Highway stretches, along with major city roads such as Sanjauli, Lakkar Bazaar, Chhota Shimla, Kasumpti and Shimla-Mandi Road.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great for tourism, but let's not forget the locals and the massive effort by PWD workers. 535 roads closed is no joke. Salute to the engineers and machine operators working in that freezing cold to restore connectivity. The ₹6 crore loss figure also shows the other side of the picture.
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Aman W
Just returned from Manali last week, missing it already! That tourist from Chandigarh is right – you need proper gear. Saw so many people in sneakers struggling. It's beautiful but demands respect. Pro tip: carry chains for your car tyres.
S
Sarah B
The coordination through video conference by the disaster management authority is a good use of tech. Hope the restoration is time-bound as directed. Tourists rejoicing is one thing, but residents need their roads open for daily life and supplies.
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Vikram M
Magical! Nothing beats chai and pakoras with this view. But a respectful suggestion to the authorities: while the heavy machinery deployment on highways is crucial, please also ensure the smaller village link roads are not forgotten. They are lifelines for many.
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Kriti O
The temperature dip to -0.4°C in Manali! Brrr. This is a proper winter wonderland. Perfect for all the Instagram reels we're about to see 😄. Stay safe and warm everyone travelling there!

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