Shimla, April 3 The district administration in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti issued a warning about an avalanche near the Atal Tunnel on Friday, while hailstorms and rain lashed the state's summer capital and surrounding areas.
Authorities have restricted tourist movement and commercial activities near the north portal of the tunnel, citing the threat of avalanches and safety concerns.
Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner, Kiran Bandana, in an order said that the slopes on the left side of the north portal, the area immediately adjacent to the tunnel portal, the Chandra Bridge and its surrounding stretch are highly vulnerable to avalanches.
These areas are witnessing increased tourist movement and unauthorized commercial activities, posing a serious risk to human life and may obstruct emergency operations and traffic management, said Bandana, who is also the chairperson of the district disaster management authority.
Accordingly, entry of tourists and the general public into these avalanche-prone areas would remain strictly prohibited, along with all forms of vending, hawking, temporary stalls, photography points, and other commercial activities in this strategically important corridor, the order said.
Hailstorms followed by rain and gusty winds lashed Shimla and its surrounding areas on Friday, while light to moderate rains occurred at many places.
The Shimla Meteorological Station issued an "orange" alert for hailstorms, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds of 50 to 60 kmph in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts.
A "yellow" warning has also been issued for Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan and Sirmaur on April 3 and 4 for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds ranging from 50 to 60 kmph in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, and Solan.
A similar alert has been issued for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds with a speed of 40 to 50 kmph in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts on April 5 and 6 and all ten non-tribal districts on April 7.
Light to moderate rain and snowfall are also likely over most tourist destinations, including Manali, Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda, Solang Valley, and Sissu from April 3 to 6 under the influence of active western disturbances, the weather station said.
It added that fairly widespread precipitation is likely from April 7 to 9 due to the influence of another active western disturbance from April 7.