Fresh snowfall, rain disrupt life in Himachal Pradesh districts; boards put off

KULLU: Lahaul Spiti and higher reaches of Kinnaur, Shimla, and Chamba districts received a spell of fresh snowfall even as moderate to heavy rain lashed low and mid hills Monday, prompting Himachal Pradesh school education board to defer Class X and XII exams in Lahaul Spiti and Chamba's Pangi subdivision.
The first five exams for Class VIII to XII, scheduled from March 4 to 8, have been put off in these areas as question papers and other examination material could not be delivered to these regions.
Kalpa in Kinnaur recorded 1cm of snow. All 165 roads in Lahaul Spiti remained blocked for the sixth day on Monday, while power outages plagued many parts. Over 700 tourists stranded in Spiti were taken to safer places by police Sunday. Thirteen stranded tourists were rescued by police in Kinnaur's Chitkul Monday. Keylong recorded the lowest minimum temperature of -10.2oC Monday. Among the hill stations, Shimla recorded a minimum of 6.2oC, Manali 1.6oC, Dharamshala 4.2oC, and Dalhousie 6.3oC.
Met department predicted light to moderate rain and snow in the high and low hills on March 4, with dry weather conditions thereafter. It issued an 'orange' warning for light to moderate snowfall at a few places, with one or two intense spells in Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur. It has issued rainfall warnings for a few places in Hamirpur, Sirmaur, Solan and parts of Shimla, Chamba, Mandi, Kangra and Kullu districts.

Icy Chenab flows again Monday
Days after its flow was obstructed by an avalanche near Jahlma village of Lahaul Valley on Feb 27, the water in icy Chenab river started flowing again on Monday. The blockade caused the water level to rise in Jahlma area, posing threat to the bridge over the river in Jobrang village.
(With inputs from PTI)