As of January 31, 2026, a total of 482 roads, including three major national highways-NH-03, NH-505, and NH-305-remain blocked in Himachal Pradesh due to heavy snowfall and damage from recent rains, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). The adverse weather has disrupted essential services such as power and drinking water supply across multiple districts. Initially, 553 roads were reported blocked in the morning; however, this number decreased to 482 by evening following restoration efforts.
In addition to road closures, 436 Distribution Transformer Rooms (DTRs) have been affected, resulting in significant power outages in various areas, while 62 water supply schemes are currently inoperative. District-wise analysis shows that Chamba district is the hardest hit, with 35 roads blocked, primarily in the Pangi, Bharmour, Salooni, Tissa, and Dalhousie sub-divisions. Power supply has been disrupted across 50 locations, and 10 water supply schemes have been affected.
Kullu district reported the highest blockage at 57 roads, including NH-305 at Jalori Pass, due to substantial snowfall. Electricity supply in Kullu has also been severely impacted, with 187 DTRs disrupted. Meanwhile, Lahaul-Spiti is experiencing extreme winter conditions, with closures on NH-03 and NH-505 in sections such as Rohtang Pass and Darcha-Sarchu. In this area, 273 DTRs have been affected, and 11 disrupted water supply schemes have been reported in the Udaipur sub-division.
Mandi district has 67 blocked roads across Seraj, Thalout, and Padhar divisions, along with 57 disrupted DTRs and two non-functional water supply schemes. Shimla district reports 40 road blockages, with 116 affected DTRs and 50 disrupted water supply schemes, specifically in Chopal, Rampur, and Kupvi sub-divisions.
Looking ahead, weather forecasts predict light rain or snowfall in isolated high-altitude areas on February 1 and 3, with drier conditions anticipated on February 4. Minimum temperatures are expected to drop by 2 to 5°C in the coming days, heightening the cold across the state.
In the Pangi Valley of Chamba’s Bharmour Assembly constituency, life has come to a standstill due to heavy snowfall, with three to four feet of snow accumulated in the region, severely hindering healthcare services. A poignant incident occurred in Shun village, where a 14-year-old boy suffering from chickenpox was carried by a local resident to Killar hospital through challenging, snow-covered terrain. The child’s condition is currently stable following his admission.
The distance from Shun to Killar hospital spans approximately 40 kilometers, with nearly 33 kilometers covered on foot as he was carried on the backs of several individuals through the snow. The remaining seven kilometers were traversed via vehicle.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/3-national-highways-among-482-roads-blocked-10505098/
Category: Chandigarh,Cities
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Publish Date: 2026-01-31 13:05:00
