Arunachal districts experience heavy to moderate snowfall

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: From one international tri-junction to another hundreds of kilometres apart, it is snowing across Arunachal Pradesh this winter. Bringing cheers to tourists and locals alike, snowfall has been recorded at the Bhutan-China-India tri-junction near Tawang in Western Arunachal Pradesh as well as at Kibitho located at the easternmost tip where the sun rises on the India-China-Myanmar tri-junction.

With the mercury level plunging down, several districts of state have recorded the season’s first snowfall during the past couple of days, officials said. While Sela Pass in Tawang district, situated at an altitude of 13,700 feet on the Bomdila-Tawang road was covered with more than one feet of snow in the past three days affecting vehicular movement, Tawang district bordering China, witnessed heavy snowfall since Monday, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Jang L W Bapu informed. “Several vehicles were stranded on Tuesday near Sela Pass due to heavy snowfall since past several days and the administration with the help of police and Army personnel rescued them,” Bapu said.

The ADC added that the road would be hopefully cleared by Wednesday afternoon as the weather condition has been improving with sunshine.

“We have issued circular to the people not to travel during night time,” Bapu added.

Tawang, the district headquarters experienced the season’s snowfall on Tuesday with a 6-7 cm layer of snow covering the township.

The town, bordering China recorded temperature up to minus four degree Celsius during night while during the day, the temperature hovers between 7-8 degree Celsius, District Information and Public Relation Officer (DIPRO) Nawang Choita informed.

According to local people, snowfall on or before Torgya, a three-day local monastic festival celebrated at the world renowned Tawang monastery in January, is considered a good omen.

Bomdila, the headquarters of West Kameng district also witnessed the season’s first snowfall on Tuesday with people experiencing chilly weather around.

The mountains of Mechukha, the headquarters of Shi Yomi district also received snow in the past couple of days.

Enchanting Mayudia in Dibang valley district also recorded moderate snowfall in the past two days with the mercury level plummeting to sub-zero.

“The people are enjoying the first snowfall of the year and arranging picnics in several locations,” DIPRO Philip Jerang informed. This year snowfall was also reported from Kibithu in Anjaw, Lemiking and Taksing in Upper Subansiri district.

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