Himachal: Parts of Lahaul and Spiti, higher reaches of Kullu see mild snowfall; tourists ecstatic
Shimla (PTI): Koksar, Zanskar, Sumdho and few other isolated places in Lahaul and Spiti, and the higher areas of Kullu district, including Rohtang pass, experienced a mild spell of snowfall on Wednesday, with tourists and residents fervently sharing its videos over social media.
While a thin carpet of snow settled in these areas, the tourists' enthusiasm knew no bounds as they revelled in the snowy landscape, with little care of the severe cold conditions that prevailed through the day.
A large number of tourists have made a beeline for Himachal Pradesh to usher in the New Year at the picturesque hill resorts.
With tourists thronging the popular destinations, including Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Shimla, Kauali, and Chail, stakeholders in the tourism sector and allied industries are pinning their hopes on the Met department forecast of light snow and rainfall over the next two days (January 1 and 2) at the higher areas in the state, expecting the fresh snow cover to attract more tourists during the holiday season.
The Met office has predicted light to moderate precipitation in several places in the higher and middling hills on New Year's Day and isolated areas in these regions on Friday (January 2). Rain and snowfall in isolated areas was also forecast for January 5 and 6.
However, snow eluded the thousands who thronged tourist hotspots of Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Kasauli and Dalhousie.
The sky remained overcast in Shimla and icy winds lashed the town causing a sharp fall in mercury.
Maximum temperatures dropped by a few notches across the state, with Solan recording the highest day temperature at 19.5 degrees Celsius, a drop of seven degrees since yesterday.
Yet, the spirits remained high, with the popular hill stations decked up in bright lights as tourists revelled in the vibrant carnivals hosted at multiple locations.
In order to provide facilities and entertain the tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh, to enjoy its natural beauty and festive spirit, winter carnivals were organised at Shimla and Dharamshala, besides small carnivals at several other places, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
Talking to the media persons here on Wednesday evening, he hoped that the state became addiction-free and self-reliant in 2026.
Himachal Pradesh witnessed the driest December in 2025 with 99 per cent deficit rains and all twelve districts barring Lahaul and Spiti district which received 99 percent deficit rains, the deficit was 100 per cent.
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Chamoli hydropower tunnel train collision: 88 injured, magisterial probe ordered
Gopeshwar/Dehradun (PTI): Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar on Wednesday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the collision between two loco trains inside the Pipalkoti tunnel of the under-construction Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydropower project, which left 88 people injured.
Earlier in the day, Kumar said that the accident occurred around 8.30 pm on Tuesday at the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) site inside the tunnel being built by THDC (India).
A loco train carrying workers for tunnel excavation during the night shift was about two kilometres inside the tunnel when another loco train coming from the opposite direction lost control and collided with it.
One of the trains had workers and officials on board, while the other carried material.
Upon receiving information about the collision, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered proper treatment for the injured. He spoke to the DM over the phone and instructed him to ensure that all the injured receive the best possible medical facilities.
DM Kumar and Superintendent of Police Surjit Singh Panwar met the injured at the Gopeshwar District Hospital.
Kumar said 109 people were on board the loco train at the time of the accident, most of them labourers. None of the injured was serious, he said.
He said that 88 of them were injured, although none of them are in serious condition. They said that 84 workers were discharged after receiving first aid, while four are still hospitalized.
DM Kumar and SP Panwar also inspected the project site and sought detailed information about the incident from the project officials.
They instructed them to strictly implement all necessary safety standards to prevent a recurrence of such an incident in the future.
After inspection, the DM issued orders for a magisterial inquiry into the accident caused by the collision of the loco trains.
Meanwhile, the Railways said the trains involved in the collision had no connection with it.
"It is clarified that this unfortunate incident occurred in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, involving a trolley used in the local transportation system during the construction of a hydroelectric project tunnel. The train referred to in the news reports is not an Indian Railways train, but a transportation system being used locally by the project team," the government entity said in a statement.
According to officials, rail-like vehicles are used to transport workers, employees, and materials for construction work inside the tunnel.
The project, being built between Helang and Pipalkoti on the Alaknanda River, will generate 444 megawatts of electricity through four turbines. The project is targeted for completion by next year.
