While the news of snowfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir brought relief to hoteliers and guides, it lasted for only a brief while, as weather conditions quickly turned rough, causing delays and road blockages.
Last week, as these regions, in addition to Arunachal Pradesh, received a fresh spell of snowfall, many tourists who had still not gotten a chance to experience white winter finally made their way to popular destinations across these states to witness it, with places like Shimla and Gulmarg recording a high number of incoming tourists. Hoteliers and guides who depend on seasonal interest also welcomed the favourable weather conditions after a long wait. However, since then, the weather conditions have become adverse, relegating most of the places and routes to shut down.
In Kashmir, flights were cancelled at the Srinagar airport, leaving many travellers stranded. Meanwhile, in Himachal Pradesh, 645 roads were shut, including four national highways. In addition to Shimla, where 242 roads were shut, the other affected areas include Lahaul and Spiti, Kullu, Chamba and Mandi districts.
Apart from Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir, Uttarakhand also received snowfall on Saturday after a long dry spell, inviting many keen visitors to popular spots like Mussoorie.
In addition to the Northern part of India, several places across Arunachal Pradesh have also received snowfall, like Mechuka Valley, Anini in Dibang Valley, Tawang and Sela Pass.
