March-End Snow: Lahaul-Spiti blanketed, Rains lash tourist hubs; 36 Roads shut
Shimla, March 30,
March-End Snow hits Himachal as Lahaul-Spiti receives fresh snowfall, rains lash Manali, Kasauli and Solan; 36 roads closed, IMD issues alert.
Fresh snowfall in the higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti district and light to moderate rainfall across key tourist destinations brought a sharp shift in weather conditions across Himachal Pradesh over the past 24 hours, impacting road connectivity and prompting fresh advisories from the India Meteorological Department.
According to IMD data, Keylong — the administrative headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti — recorded around 2 cm of snowfall on Monday. Higher reaches including Rohtang Pass, Kunzum Pass, Goshal hills, Seven Sisters hills and areas around Keylong witnessed light snowfall, indicating the continuation of late-season western disturbance activity.
Meanwhile, popular tourist destinations such as Manali, Kasauli and Solan experienced rainfall, while the rest of the state largely remained dry.
Rainfall distribution remained uneven but locally intense. Solan recorded 18 mm rainfall, Manali 14 mm, Kukumseri 7 mm, Kufri 6 mm, while Sarahan (Shimla district), Kasauli and Dharmpur each received around 30 mm rainfall. Seobagh in Kullu and Rohru in Shimla recorded about 10 mm each.
The fresh snowfall has disrupted connectivity in Lahaul-Spiti, with as many as 36 roads reported closed. The crucial Manali–Leh axis via NH-03 remains blocked between Rohtang Pass and Sarchu. Stretches between Darcha and Sarchu are also closed, while limited movement for 4×4 vehicles is allowed up to the Atal Tunnel’s north portal. The Gramphu–Batal road remains shut, while the Darcha–Shinkula route is operational for single-lane traffic. Key stretches like Lossar–Batal remain closed, though Sumdo–Lossar is open.
Issuing a fresh advisory, the IMD warned of significant snowfall in Keylong, Udaipur and Kaza, with widespread rain or snow expected at many places across the state. A yellow alert has been sounded for hailstorms, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 50–60 km/h. The department has also indicated a major wet spell likely around April 3 and 4.
Temperatures across the state reflected the changing weather pattern. Keylong recorded a minimum of 1.5°C, Kalpa 3°C, Kufri 5.8°C and Manali around 7°C. Lower hill stations saw comparatively milder conditions, with Shimla at 11.8°C, Dharamshala 9.5°C, Solan 11°C and Mandi 13.3°C. Warmer pockets included Bilaspur at 17.5°C, while Kangra, Una and Nahan hovered around 15.3°C.
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