Some five districts including Thimphu received the season’s first snowfall today disrupting traffic and stranding many vehicles. People are urged to refrain from travelling in these areas.
Wednesday finally brought an answer to the questions residents in Thimphu have been asking for quite some time. Is it ever going to snow? Thimphu saw the last snowfall in 2018.
The residents woke up to snow-blanketed roads and mountains, trees and roofs. Children and adults alike started stomping through the snow, making footprints, building snowmen and enjoying a snowball fight. The National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology says Thimphu received 9cm of snow today.
Haa received the heaviest snowfall at 24cm of thickness. It was followed by Thimphu, Paro, Gasa.
Bumthang had the lowest amount of snow. The heaviest snowfall was recorded in Gasa at 12cm in 2018.
The Prime Minister’s Office directed all the public institutions in districts experiencing heavy snowfall to work from Home.
The movement of vehicles has been restricted along the highway from Simtokha to Monggar. People are advised to refrain from travelling.
Due to heavy snowfall at Thrumshingla and Yotongla passes, fourteen passenger buses are stopped in Bumthang. The department of roads carried out de-icing works on the passes but it is not sure if the roads would open tomorrow because of continuous snowfall.
There is a forecast of snowfall in high altitude areas tomorrow as well.
Kelzang Choden
Edited by Sangay Chezom
