Heavy Snowfall Ends Dry Spell: After a prolonged dry spell, Himachal Pradesh received its first major snowfall of the season, transforming destinations like Manali, Shimla, and Dalhousie into winter wonderlands , The snowfall extended to lower hills, with Palampur receiving snow after a decade.
Widespread Disruption: While tourists celebrated the scenic views, the weather caused significant chaos, with over 1,200 roads blocked across the state, including four national highways , The heavy snow knocked out power and water supplies in several districts, particularly affecting Solan, Lahaul-Spiti, and Mandi.
Alerts Issued: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for all districts continuing until January 28, following earlier orange alerts for heavy snow and rain.
Heli-Taxi Services Launched: In a major boost to connectivity, Chief Minister flagged off heli-taxi services under the UDAN scheme, linking Shimla with Chandigarh, Kullu, and Kinnaur.
Road Development: The Centre sanctioned Rs 2,247 crore for rural road projects in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV).
Smart Meter Controversy: Residents and activists in areas like Jogindernagar and Lunj protested the “forced” installation of smart electricity meters. The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEBL) maintained that these meters would not affect free power subsidies or increase bills.
Ropeway Delays: The Shimla ropeway project is facing cost escalations of over Rs 1,000 crore due to delays.
Statehood Day: The Governor and Chief Minister extended greetings on the eve of Himachal Pradesh’s 56th Statehood Day on January 25.
Security Threats: Security was tightened after Chief Minister Sukhu received a threat regarding a suicide bomb attack planned for Republic Day.
Cabinet Decisions: The state cabinet approved the establishment of a cancer care center at the medical college in Hamirpur and announced plans to frame a new nutrition policy.
Political Rifts: Internal tensions surfaced within the Congress party, with reports of rifts between Minister Vikramaditya Singh and the bureaucracy, as well as warnings from the party leadership against indiscipline.
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Tourist Accidents: A tragic car crash on the Kullu-Manali highway claimed the lives of three tourists from Delhi.
Drug Crackdown: Police continued their crackdown on narcotics, arresting drug peddlers in Hamirpur and Mandi, and seizing substances like heroin and “chitta”, A police constable was dismissed from service for involvement in drug trafficking.
Bodies Recovered: A woman’s body was recovered from the Beas River near Mandi, and a Ghaziabad tourist’s body was found near the Atal Tunnel.
Winter Carnival: The Manali Winter Carnival commenced, featuring a “Maha Nati” performance by 1,500 women, although festivities were briefly disrupted by continuous snowfall.
Civic Sense Debate: A video of shirtless tourists in the snow sparked a debate regarding civic sense and the preservation of the local culture.
New Projects: The government approved Asia’s longest adventure zipline project near Dharamshala to boost global tourism appeal.
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