Freak Snowfall Strands Tourists Near Atal Tunnel; Apple Trees Damaged in Lahaul
Keylong, October 8:
Over a hundred tourists and campers were stranded on the Atal Tunnel’s north portal stretch along the Keylong–Darcha–Sarchu–Leh highway after Lahaul Valley received a freak snowfall of nearly 22 to 24 inches in the past two days.
The heavy snow, described as the first major spell of the season, has sent a sharp chill sweeping across the highland valleys of Himachal Pradesh.
While bright sunshine returned to Shimla, cheering tourists and enabling apple harvesting to resume in the higher hills, the scene in Lahaul remains grim.
“Power has been out for three days, and mobile networks barely work. We had to run the generator to get a signal.
The snowfall has caused severe damage to apple trees — many branches have broken under the weight,” said Himal Chand Thakur, a hotelier and farmer from Shishin village in Lahaul Valley.
Thakur said the snow, which measured nearly two feet even after partial melting, has disrupted normal life in the region.
Officials confirmed that BRO (Border Roads Organisation) has moved its snow-clearing machines to restore the blocked Keylong–Darcha–Leh highway, but the fate of stranded tourists and camping agents remains uncertain until the road is reopened and connectivity is restored.
Meanwhile, the bright sun over Shimla and Kullu brought relief to farmers harvesting the last batches of apples and turned the hill stations into perfect getaways for tourists seeking a taste of early winter.
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