Yellow Warning of Heavy Rain, Snowfall Extends School Vacations

Meteorological Department's (Met) weather warning of heavy rain and snowfall has led to the extension of winter vacation in schools of Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district. 

Kullu District Magistrate Yunus issued an order in this regard. It stated that the schools in the district would now reopen on February 18 instead of February 13. Hence, holidays of schools are extended by four days.  

This decision was taken in the interest of safety of the students as several roads in the upper areas of the district are still blocked after the snowfall on February 7. 

Yunus further said in the order that the work of clearing the roads is in the process as more snowfall is predicted in the coming days. However, the Met centre in Shimla has predicted rain and snowfall in the high and mid hills and hailstorm in the low hills and plains from February 13 to February 16. 

The weatherman has issued a yellow warning of heavy rain and snowfall on Thursday and Friday due to a fresh western disturbance.  

According to Shimla Met centre Director Manmohan Singh, a fresh western disturbance and its interaction with tropical easterlies or winds blowing from the east is likely from February 13 to 16, resulting in heavy rain and snow. 

The Met issues colour-coded warnings to alert the public ahead of hazardous weather which has the potential to cause "damage, widespread disruption or danger to life."