Himachal Pradesh has been witnessing heavy snowfall this month, turning the state into a winter wonderland but has also brought many miseries to locals and tourists. Many people recently have experienced the perils of driving on icy mountain roads as their vehicles skid out of control. One such video doing rounds shows a small truck rolling down a snowy road in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali and slipping into the Solang Valley.

The footage shows the truck starting to slip on the icy road while it was snowing heavily in the town. The driver immediately jumped out of the moving truck, narrowly avoiding a tragic fall. He initially tried to stop the vehicle, but even he could be seen slipping on the road. Within a couple of seconds, the truck fell into the Valley.

A similar incident took place earlier this month where a Mahindra Thar skidded off a snow-covered road near near Atal Tunnel, which connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti Valley. The driver managed to jump out of the moving car.

A fresh spell of heavy snowfall in Manali this week left at least 1,000 vehicles stuck for hours between Solang and Atal Tunnel. The Kullu police launched a rescue operation and rescued around 5,000 tourists. Visuals showed officials assisting travellers in navigating their vehicles amid heavy snowfall.

“Due to fresh snowfall, about 1,000 tourists and other vehicles were stuck in Solang Nala. There were about 5,000 tourists in these vehicles. The vehicles and tourists have been rescued by Kullu Police and taken to safe places. The rescue operation is still going on,” the police said in a post on X.

Over 200 roads, including three national highways, have been closed in Himachal Pradesh. Out of these, 123 are in Shimla, 36 in Lahaul and Spiti, and 25 in Kullu. Additionally, over 170 transformers were disrupted, affecting power supply across the state.

New Delhi:

A severe cold wave has gripped several parts of North India with Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand witnessing heavy snowfall, leading to the disruption in travel. At least 226, including three national highways, have been closed in Himachal Pradesh, while in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun, intense snowfall has halted traffic along a 30-kilometer stretch of the Tyuni-Chakrata-Mussoorie National Highway.

Uttarakhand’s Dharanadhar-Koti Kanasar road is heavily covered in snow, leaving two tourists from Delhi stranded, reported news agency IANS. Heavy snowfall has also made Jammu and Kashmir a winter wonderland but has also brought many miseries to locals and tourists. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Srinagar is witnessing a minimum temperature of -7 degrees Celsius.

Severe cold wave warning in Himachal Pradesh

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange’ alert for severe cold conditions in Himachal Pradesh, adding that a thick blanket of fog is likely to persist over the state. According to the weather department, some parts of the state may also witness rain and snow over the weekend.

“Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir on December 26,” the IMD said.

Out of the 226 roads closed in Himachal Pradesh, 123 are in Shimla, 36 in Lahaul and Spiti, and 25 in Kullu. Additionally, 173 transformers were disrupted, affecting power supply across the state, reported PTI.

Smog grips Delhi

A thick blanket of smog gripped Delhi on Thursday morning as the air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category. The visibility in the national capital also plunged, causing disruptions in flight operations. At least 83 flight departures have been delayed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) since 12 am.

The Delhi airport also issued an advisory for passengers amid the poor air quality.

“Low Visibility Procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information,” it said in a post on X.

The national capital is also witnessing a cold wave with a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning. The IMD has forecast light rainfall in the capital on Friday and Saturday and has issued a ‘yellow’ alert predicting dense fog on Sunday.

A cold wave is intensifying across North India, including Delhi-NCR, as temperatures dip following light rain in the plains and snowfall in the mountains. Delhi is grappling with a double threat of pollution and plummeting temperatures, while cold wave and fog conditions persist in Punjab and Haryana. Snowfall and cold wave alerts have been issued for Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, with rising cold also being felt in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, with a thin layer of fog enveloping parts of the national capital. On Monday, the minimum temperature stood at 8 degrees Celsius, while the maximum reached 20 degrees Celsius.

Residents of the national capital were seen gathering bonfires to combat the chill, while others took refuge in night shelter homes as temperatures continued to drop in Delhi.

In Rajasthan, the cold weather persisted, significantly impacting daily life due to the falling temperatures. In Bikaner, the temperature was recorded at 9 degrees Celsius, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Cold wave continues to affect the daily life of the people in Jammu and Kashmir, with temperatures dropping below zero in many areas. Srinagar recorded a temperature of -5.2 degrees Celsius at 5:30 am on Tuesday. Other recorded temperatures included -0.6 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg, – 6.8 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam, – 0.8 degrees Celsius in Banihal and – 4.6 degrees Celsius in Kupwara.

On Monday, Srinagar experienced a minimum temperature of -7 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius, as reported by the IMD.

As per the IMD, a cold wave is considered when the minimum temperature of a station is 10 degrees Celsius or less for plains and 0 degrees Celsius or less for Hilly regions.

The IMD forecasts a severe cold wave in Jammu and Kashmir starting from December 24. Additionally, dense fog conditions and a cold wave are expected to prevail from December 23 to 25 in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and other states.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was classified in the ‘severe’ category on Tuesday, with visibility limited by the fog. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI was recorded at 401 at 8 AM. On the previous day, the AQI also fell into the ‘severe’ category, measuring 403 at 7 AM.

Specific AQI readings included 417 in Alipur, 423 in Anand Vihar, 425 in RK Puram, and 402 at ITO.

An AQI rating is categorized as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), and 401-500 (severe).

(With inputs from ANI)

Minnesota residents are advised to prepare for a major shift in weather next week, with multiple forecast models predicting a significant rain-to-snow event across the state. Late Monday or early Tuesday is when the system is predicted to arrive, initially bringing rain to a large portion of the state.

However, especially in the central and northern regions, the precipitation is expected to turn to snow as colder air moves in. According to several models, the storm may stall over Lake Superior, causing significant snowfall in these regions.

While the exact track and intensity of the storm are still uncertain, forecasters are urging residents to monitor weather updates closely. It’s advisable to prepare for potential travel disruptions, power outages, and hazardous road conditions.

How Frequently Does Snow Fall in Minnesota?

While winter brings cold temperatures to Minnesota, snowfall days are relatively limited. On average, Minneapolis experiences around 15 snow days each year, while Rochester sees about 16 days. Duluth, known for its more intense winter weather, averages around 25 days of snow annually.

According to KROC News, Minnesota’s weather forecast for Thursday, November 21, predicts scattered snow showers in Rochester with highs of 37 fahrenheit, lows of 29 fahrenheit, and up to an inch of snow. Minneapolis expects a mix of rain and snow with a high of 43 fahrenheit and a low of 34 fahrenheit. In Duluth, rain and snow chances increase to 60% by evening, with similar mixed conditions continuing Friday and Saturday, reaching highs near 39 fahrenheit.

Kabul:

Widespread heavy snowfall across several provinces in Afghanistan over the past three days has resulted in the tragic loss of 15 lives and injuries to nearly 30 individuals, TOLOnews reported.

Additionally, statistics obtained from Balkh and Faryab provinces by TOLOnews indicate a devastating impact on livestock, with nearly ten thousand animals perishing due to the recent snowfalls.

Abdul Qadir, a resident of Sar-e-Pul, expressed the prevailing anxiety among the population, stating, “The snow is ongoing and very heavy, and people are anxious as their livestock have suffered losses, many roads are blocked, and there is hardly any movement.”

Another resident, Amanullah, emphasised the urgent need for government assistance, especially for those affected by road blockages and the plight of hungry livestock.

In response to the crisis, Afghanistan has announced the formation of a committee comprising various ministries to address the damages, particularly to livestock owners. The authorities have allocated fifty million Afghanis to support livestock owners in the provinces of Balkh, Jawzjan, Badghis, Faryab, and Herat.

Misbahuddin Mustaeen, the Taliban-appointed spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, highlighted the swift response of committees formed in all provinces. These committees are actively working to open blocked roads, distribute food and fodder to affected communities, and rescue those stranded in the aftermath of the heavy snowfall.

Erfanullah Sharafzoi, spokesperson for the Afghan Red Crescent Society, said that winter service workers have already provided assistance in provinces such as Badghis, Ghor, Farah, Kandahar, Helmand, Jawzjan, and Nuristan, reaching individuals affected by the recent snowfalls.

The severe snowfall has resulted in the closure of key transportation routes, including the Salang Pass and access to various provinces such as Ghor, Badghis, Ghazni, Herat, and Bamyan. Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, confirmed the temporary blockage of these routes due to the heavy snowfall over the past two days.

Esmatullah Muradi, spokesperson for the provincial governor of Faryab, reported that heavy snowfall in the province led to road closures in most districts, leaving residents in remote areas stranded. Tragically, one person in the Chahar Sada district on the Turkmenistan border lost their life, TOLOnews reported.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)