Low snowfall in Lahaul-Spiti raises fear of deadly slippery roads

Keylong (The Uttam Hindu): Weather conditions in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district have turned highly uncertain. With temperatures dropping below the freezing point and severe frost setting in, roads have become extremely slippery, raising serious concerns about safety.

According to the daily situation report released by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), despite cloudy or partly cloudy weather, only light and intermittent snowfall has occurred so far in the higher reaches of this tribal district this season. This has increased concern among local residents, farmers, and the administration.

As a precautionary measure, most major roads in the district have been closed. The Gramphoo–Rohtang Pass stretch and the Darcha–Sarchu road on National Highway 003 are shut. On National Highway 505, the Gramphoo–Battal and Losar–Battal routes are also closed. Limited connectivity is available on a few stretches, with Gramphoo–Koksar open only for light motor vehicles and the Darcha–Shinkula road restricted to four-by-four vehicles. In the Spiti subdivision, a Public Works Department road near Chandratal remains closed.

Officials clarified that the closures are not due to heavy snowfall but because of intense frost, black ice, and frozen water channels, which have made the roads dangerously slippery. An official warned that the risk to human life is high and even a minor mistake in such conditions can prove fatal.

The weather forecast for the next 48 hours indicates very little chance of rain or snowfall in Keylong, Udaipur, and Kaza. The Meteorological Department has said that skies may remain cloudy or partly cloudy, with the probability of precipitation ranging between zero and 24 percent, and no specific weather warning has been issued for the district.

Local residents have expressed concern that inadequate snowfall is affecting traditional winter activities. They said snow is the region’s lifeline, and without it, water sources and crops could suffer. The administration has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, strictly follow official advisories, and use only suitable vehicles on permitted routes.