Cop among three govt employees sacked by J&K LG for terror links

Services of 69 J&K govt workers have been terminated since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

SHIMLA: High-altitude tribal areas and other higher reaches of Himachal experienced another spell of light snowfall on Saturday, officials said, adding that the state capital Shimla also received traces of snowfall, as the sky remained heavily overcast and strong, chilly winds swept through the city and its adjoining areas.

Intermittent snowfall continued at Sissu and Jispa with the Lahaul and Spiti district police advising people to avoid travelling towards Atal Tunnel and Lahaul Valley.

The accumulation of snow on National Highway 5 (Hindustan-Tibet Highway) has made the road slippery, and vehicular traffic is being diverted from Sainj via Luhri and Sunni, officials added. The local meteorological station has predicted light snow at a few places in the Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, and higher reaches of Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Chamba districts, with light rainfall expected at a few places in the remaining parts of these districts on February 15. The Met station also forecasted light snowfall at isolated places in Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, and over the higher reaches of Chamba on February 18 and 21, light precipitation at a few places on February 19.

Fresh WD likely in J&K in coming week: MeT SRINAGAR: After scanty rainfall in first two weeks of February, the MeT office has predicted a Western Disturbance for next week with a hope that it will result in major snow and rainfall.

Since past six weeks, the harshest winter, there wasn't any major snowfall in Kashmir which has resulted a deficit of rain and snowfall up to 70 to 75% than normal in this period. "The rain and snowfall is badly needed. In our streams and rivers the water discharge is very low which could be very harmful in coming months especially during summers," said Jalal Jeelani an environmentalist.