100 Villages Isolated, Schools Shut

Heavy snowfall leads to closure of Badrinath highway, authorities alert • Snow-covered residential area after fresh snowfall in several districts

- NARENDRA SETHI @ Dehradun

ROAD access to nearly 100 villages has been cut off, significantly disrupting daily life and leaving residents confined in their homes. This situation has arisen after a continuous mix of rain and snowfall blanketed the region from the mountains to the plains of Uttarakhand over the past two days.

Sources from the state disaster management authority report that "lower-lying areas of the state are also experiencing continuous light to moderate rainfall, leading to a substantial drop in temperatures."

In response to these harsh conditions, the district administration in the mountainous regions, including the state capital, has announced school closures until January 4.

The heavy snowfall has also led to the closure of crucial routes, including the Badrinath highway and the road connecting Kumaon to the China border. According to the Meteorological Department, "There may be some relief on Monday, with forecasts indicating sunshine in most of the areas."

However, they also cautioned that "partly cloudy conditions may persist in certain mountainous regions."