A fresh Western Disturbance has brought rain, snowfall and hailstorms across parts of North and Northeast India, according to the India Meteorological Department. Several states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, witnessed changing weather conditions.
Western Disturbance Triggers Rain, Snowfall and Hail Across North India
New Delhi: The weather in northwest India has once again taken a turn. Snowfall in the high Himalayan peaks, along with thunderstorms, strong winds, and hailstorms in the valleys and surrounding plains, has led to a drop in temperatures. According to the Meteorological Department, the weather in many states may remain unpredictable in the coming days.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a western disturbance is developing in the western Himalayan region and adjoining plains. Due to this, thunderstorms, strong winds, and hailstorms are expected at many places between March 18 and 20.
According to IMD data as of 8:30 am on Monday, hailstorms were recorded at several places in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, and the northeastern states in the last 24 hours.
Heavy rainfall (7-20 cm) was recorded at isolated places in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, and Meghalaya. Several places in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram also experienced rainfall ranging from 7 to 11 cm.
Strong winds, gusting up to 50 to 65 km/h, reached Kolkata and Malda in West Bengal, bringing a sudden cold snap to many areas.
The weather has also worsened the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Heavy snowfall on Sunday night stranded several vehicles and people at Sinthan Top in Kishtwar. The Army's White Knight Corps launched a rescue operation and safely evacuated 235 people and 38 vehicles.
Army personnel provided hot food, drinking water, and temporary shelter to the stranded people. The search for a missing person in the Dangduru area following a landslide is still ongoing.
The weather has also changed in the border districts of Uttarakhand. Heavy snowfall occurred on the higher peaks on Sunday night, while the lower areas experienced heavy rain and thunderstorms.
The hills of Khalia Top, Panchachuli, Hansling, Nagnidhura, and Chiplakedar in Munsyari were covered in a white blanket of snow, increasing the cold in the area.
Snowfall occurred in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh, while rain and hailstorms occurred in the lower reaches. Nearly 10,000 tourists and locals stranded in approximately 1,500 vehicles on the Manali-Leh route were safely evacuated through the Rohtang Tunnel.
Due to the severe cold on Sunday night, many people had to spend the night in their vehicles. The administration and relief agencies are continuously monitoring the situation.
