Shimla, January 23: After a prolonged dry spell stretching over four months, fresh snowfall and rain finally returned to Shimla and large parts of Himachal Pradesh on Friday morning, lifting spirits across the hill state and bringing much-needed relief to apple growers, farmers, tourism stakeholders, and the fragile mountain ecosystem.
It was snowing in the city , The Ridge, Jakhu hills, Tara Devi Hill, Sanjauli, Dhalli, Kufri, Fagu, Malhotra after the rains, cheering up the residents and tourists. By 7.30 am snowfall was witnessed throughout the city areas, in New Shimla, Kusumpti and Mehli as well, cheering residents who came out in the open enjoying the snowy chills, frills and thrills after a long wait.
Even Char Dham in Uttarakhand and hill Stations are also experiencing snowfall since wee morning hours, reviving the glaciers in upper Himalayan region.
Hydropower Producers like SJVN, NHPC, NTPC, HPSEBL, and other pruvate ones also get boost as the rains and snow recharge snowfed rivers such as Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chandra Bhagha, Yamuna, Ganga ji, Indus, Bhramputra in the Himalayan region.
The first snowflakes began falling in the early hours of the morning when most of Himachal Pradesh was still asleep. By dawn, news of snowfall in the upper reaches spread rapidly, waking residents and tourists to a long-awaited winter spectacle.
The higher elevations including Kufri, Narkanda, Solangnala upper areas, Manali, Khirki , Charki, Khadapathar, Moraal Danda, Sungri, Baghi, Khadrala and the Churdhar range at 12000 ft in Shimla district fresh snowfall.
The roads are blocked in apple belt on high points due to snow fall.
Several regions that had remained unusually bare and snowless this winter, including parts of Kinnaur, Kinner Kailash, Bir-Billing’s upper reaches, of Shimla and interior belts of Kullu-Manali, were finally blanketed in snow.
Manali Winter Carnival is in full swing with snowfall giving it a big boost drawing tourists in large numbers.
The Manali Keylong national highway was blocked beyond Manali to Atal Tunnel an Lahaul-Spiti due to heavy snowfall.
Even the cold desert regions and apple belt, which had been experiencing an alarming dry spell and rising incidents of forest fires, saw weather conditions turning favourable last night.
The snowfall followed strong winds during the night, after which snow and rain set in across much of the upper and mid-hill regions.
It has snowed upto half feet since early morning in the apple orchards here, says Deepak Banchta of Shilgrahan, Shantha in Chopal subdivision
This change in weather has effectively broken the prolonged dry spell that had raised serious concerns for apple orchards, rabi crops, water sources, and overall ecological balance in the state.
Apple growers, in particular, have welcomed the snowfall, as adequate chill hours and soil moisture are critical for healthy flowering and fruit setting in the coming season.
Large parts of the apple belt had been facing moisture stress, while recurring forest fire incidents had added to growers’ anxiety.
The fresh snow is expected to restore moisture levels and reduce fire risks significantly.
Tourism stakeholders are also optimistic that the snowfall will revive sagging winter tourism, especially in popular destinations such as Kufri, Narkanda, and Manali, Dalhousie even Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti which had been witnessing thinner crowds due to lack of snow.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which had earlier predicted multiple spells of snow and rain that failed to materialise, now expects the current weather system to remain active through the day.
The Shimla city has been experiencing heavy rains lightning and chill winds bringing the temperature down and residents hope it would snow soon as the day progresses.
The ongoing spell is likely to bring widespread rain and snowfall across the state, offering relief to farmers, tourists, and residents alike.
Officials and locals alike say the snowfall has come as a timely lifeline—not just for agriculture and tourism, but for the entire mountain ecosystem that had been under stress due to prolonged dryness.
