You Raj Sharma

The North News

Shimla, January 24

The widespread snowfall after a prolonged dry spell has brought much-needed relief to farmers and orchardists in Himachal Pradesh, though it has also disrupted normal life across the hill state.
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said the snowfall was crucial for agriculture and the state’s economy. However, heavy snow has led to the closure of 1,291 roads across Himachal Pradesh, while around 4,800 power transformers have been knocked out, affecting electricity supply in several areas.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has launched large-scale restoration work, deploying 385 machines, including JCBs, dozers and snow blowers, to clear snow and reopen key routes. A monitoring cell is continuously collecting ground reports to assess the situation and prioritise road clearance.
Sharing details, he further said that the advance planning had been carried out in view of weather forecasts, with machinery pre-positioned in high-altitude regions before the snowfall began. According to the department’s plan, 625 roads were targeted for restoration on 24 January, 290 on 25 January, and a further 324 roads between 26 and 27 January.
Appealing to tourists, the minister urged them to maintain decorum and avoid activities that go against the state’s cultural values. Referring to some viral videos, he said such behaviour sent the wrong message and should invite police action where necessary. He also advised visitors not to panic and to avoid unnecessary travel during adverse weather conditions.
He stressed that the deployment of machinery was being carried out in a transparent manner and that there would be no misuse of resources. He said practices seen in the past, where machines were hired unnecessarily during snowfall leading to allegations of corruption, would not be repeated under the current government.