The higher reaches of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh received a fresh spell of snowfall, and parts of the mid-hills recorded light rainfall the previous day, blocking the Manali-Leh highway between Darcha and Sarchu.
According to the weather department, it snowed in high mountain passes, including the Rohtang Pass and parts of the Lahaul-Spiti district, such as Kukumseri, Keylong, Darcha, and Sarchu. It also snowed in the high-altitude areas of Kinnaur district, including Chitkul, and in the high Dhauladhar mountains of Kangra district.
The fresh spell of snow blocked the Manali-Leh highway between Darcha and Sarchu, and the route from Koksar to Palchan via Rohtang Pass was also closed. Other roads that were closed in Lahaul-Spiti due to snowfall included Darcha to Shinkula, Samdo-Kaza-Gramphu, and the Tandi to Killar road.
Five tourists who were stranded in the Chatru area of the Lahaul Spiti district due to snowfall were rescued by a team of the local police and taken to Koksar early yesterday morning.
Meanwhile, Tabo in Lahaul-Spiti was the coldest place in the state yesterday, with the lowest minimum temperature of -2.2 degrees Celsius. Among the tourist destinations, Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of 8.4 degrees Celsius, Dharamshala 13.8 degrees Celsius, Manali 6.9 degrees Celsius, and Kufri 6.3 degrees Celsius.