Sunday, 02 April 2023 | PNS | BAGESHWAR/NAINITAL

Rain has been continuing intermittently since Friday in Pithoragarh and Nainital districts. Snowfall is also being reported from the higher altitude Himalayan regions near the border with China in the Pithoragarh district. The unseasonal rains have resulted in a considerable drop in the temperature with people lighting fires to stay warm. According to information received from Dharchula, there has been considerable snowfall in higher altitude regions and the Darma valley on the Kailash Mansarovar route from Chhiyalekh to the China border. According to the locals, villages in the valley have received more than half a foot of snow since Friday with the snowfall continuing on Saturday evening also. Rain and snowfall has been reported from various other parts of the district. The unseasonal rain has also affected the Rabi crop.

In Nainital, the tourists who were expecting to enjoy sunny weather on the weekend encountered rain which started on Saturday afternoon. Nainital city has been witnessing rainfall and hail intermittently for about a fortnight now which has affected the routine lives of the locals and the tourism business. The city experienced rain and hail on Friday evening. The weather was clear on Saturday morning but rain started in the afternoon. Tourists who had come here from various parts of the country to spend the weekend had to spend the time in their hotel rooms while some ventured out for board rides and walks sheltered under umbrellas and plastic sheets.