Shimla has finally received first heavy snowfall of the season as snowfall is continuing since Friday night and is still continuing. Already hill town has received around half foot of snow. With thick blanket of snow, supply of milk, bread, newspapers have been blocked. Since long people associated with snow industry were awaiting good snowfall as it brings tourists along with it
Cloudy weather conditions were prevailing in Shimla for last few days but people had lost the hope of snowfall with increase in temperature. But Queen of Hills woke up to snowy morning on Saturday ending the tryst of hill town with snowfall. With heavy snowfall now hoteliers are all smiles as they are expecting rush of tourists on weekends.
Missing snow had directly affected the tourism business as Shimla had witnessed moderate snowfall on December 22 only and later despite intense cold conditions snow eluded the hill town much to the disappointment of tourists.
Snow remains a major attraction for tourist and decrease in snowing days has rang the alarm bells for people associated with tourism business. Old times recall that few decades back Shimla used to witness heavy and frequent snowfall but now snowfall has become rare. "Over population, over construction, increase in vehicle number have its impact on the weather resulting into less snowfall," said Gian Chand Thakur a Shimla resident.
Decrease in snowfall has left people associated with tourism industry worried as they feel that during winters now less number of tourists would visit the erstwhile summer capital of India as they have the option to witness snowfall in nearby Kashmir valley and Uttrakhand.
Shimla hoteliers association president Harnam Kukreja said that decrease in snowfall is having direct impact on tourism industry as it results into less number of footfall during winters. "If snowfall is occurring in Kashmir and Shimla is witnessing dry weather conditions then tourists would definitely go to Kashmir," he added.
Kukreja said that already tourism industry of Himachal Pradesh has suffered of this. "Missing snow had already diverted the tourists to Uttrakhand and Kashmir. If state government will not sell the tourist destinations on Uttrakhand pattern then in the coming years tourism industry of Shimla will vanish," he added.
A study conducted by state environment science and technology department has revealed that warming rate of Shimla was higher during 1991 to 2002 as compared to earlier decades while decreasing trend in seasonal snowfall in Shimla is very conspicuous since 1990 and it was lowest in 2009. About 17% decrease in rainfall in Shimla was observed from 1996 onwards, study revealed.
According to Dr G C Kuniyal, senior scientist at the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Himachal unit at Mohal, Global warming has changed the weather cycle. He said that rise in temperature due to global warming in Himalayan region are not only affecting the crop pattern but also leading to unusual weather conditions including less snow and rain in Shimla.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Shimla-witnesses-heavy-snowfall/articleshow/28989011.cms
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