Lahaul Spiti News
Lahaul-Spiti News : Heavy Snowfall Paralyses Life in Lahaul-Spiti, All 290 Roads Blocked; Valley Cut Off
Heavy snowfall has completely paralysed normal life in Himachal Pradesh’s tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti, cutting off the region from the rest of the state after all 290 roads were blocked on Monday.
Heavy snowfall has completely paralysed normal life in Himachal Pradesh’s tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti, cutting off the region from the rest of the state after all 290 roads were blocked on Monday.
Continuous snowfall, accompanied by strong snow blizzards and sub-zero temperatures, has severely disrupted transportation, power supply and daily activities across the remote mountain district.
Entire district isolated
According to Deputy Commissioner Kunika Akers, road connectivity has been snapped across all three subdivisions:
- 74 roads in Lahaul
- 60 roads in Udaipur
- 156 roads in Spiti
All these routes are maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD).
The strategically important Manali–Leh National Highway via the Atal Tunnel has also been closed beyond Solang Nala, further isolating the Lahaul valley from the rest of Himachal.
With roads blocked, residents have been forced to stay indoors as intense snowstorms and freezing winds sweep through the region.
Heavy accumulation, extreme cold
Heavy snowfall continued throughout the day across the district.
- 20 cm fresh snowfall recorded in Keylong on Monday
- Around 75 cm total accumulation including earlier spells
The thick snow cover has crippled normal life and disrupted essential services.
Temperatures have plunged well below freezing, making outdoor movement extremely risky.
Power supply hit
Snowfall has also damaged power infrastructure.
Six electricity transformers in the Udaipur division have been disrupted, affecting supply in the Tindi region and adjoining areas. Restoration work will begin once weather conditions improve.
Schools shut, alert issued
In view of continuous snowfall and unsafe travel conditions, the district administration has ordered the closure of all government and private educational institutions in Lahaul and Udaipur subdivisions.
The order covers:
- Schools
- Colleges
- ITIs
- Polytechnic institutions
- Anganwadi centres
The decision has been taken under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Institutions remained closed for half day on Monday and will stay shut for the full day on January 28.
Advisory to residents
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Shimla, has warned of heavy to very heavy snowfall in Lahaul and Udaipur areas in the coming days.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and remain on high alert.
The district administration has appealed to residents to:
- Avoid unnecessary travel
- Follow official weather advisories
- Cooperate with authorities until conditions improve
