Snowless Shimla emerges as a worrying climatic signal

Shimla, one of north India’s most favoured winter destinations is going without snow this year even though other districts in Himachal Pradesh  such as Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Manali have been wrapped in snow.

Barely, a 6 cm of snowfall almost a fortnight back is what Shimla holds to its credit in the year over earlier records of 102.4 cm and more in the bygone years, 15-20 years back.

“The Queen of Hills — Shimla, once chosen by the Britishers for its pristine glory, forests , wooden cottages and climate, seems to have fallen on bad days. I can’t believe Shimla has no snow this January” says Bansi Dhar Pathak, an old native of the town, currently living at Patiala in Punjab to escape harsh winters.

In 2015, Shimla had recorded scanty snowfall on Christmas eve and thereafter it has not seen a white-Christmas or snowfall on New Year’s  eve—two popular events that had attracted thousands of snow revellers.

In 2022, Shimla had 102.4cm snowfall in the month of January while 2021 also passed off without a grain of snow .This year, just one event of scanty snowfall of a mere 6cm was recorded.

The impact is visible on the tourist footfall, says Mohinder Seth, President, Himachal Pradesh tourism stakeholders’ association.

“Barring routine weekend check-ins, the hotel industry is reeling under huge losses. We do get queries about room availability but only when MeT forecasts the possibility of snow. Manali, of course, has been an exception as had received heavy snow spells” says Seth.

When contacted, Director ,Shimla Centre of Indian Meteorological Department Surender Paul said Weak Western disturbance and above normal minimum temperature has created unusual conditions for Shimla this time  as snow continues to elude.

Today’s weather forecast again suggests a clear sky in Shimla with no chance of snowfall in the next three days ahead.

The situation is really worrying at least for the scientists, who have been studying the climatic changes and declining snow cover in the mountain towns when higher reaches are continuously witnessing snowfall.

Lahaul-Spiti ,for example, has nearly 2 to 3 feet of snow and temperature dropping down to minus 19 degree Centigrade.

“ I have not seen such a good snowfall in Spiti ,during the past three years. Snowfall is essential for cold deserts which have rich biodiversity and distinctive ecology. When Shimla is starving of snow this year, I feel people in Lahaul-Spiti should celebrate the snow” says Ajay Banyal, Assistant Public Relation Officer (APRO),Kaza and wildlife enthusiast.