Uttarakhand sees widespread rain, snowfall: Kedarnath temple painted in white
High-altitude regions of Uttarakhand received the season’s first snowfall on Friday, ending a prolonged dry spell and intensifying the cold wave across the state, while steady rain lashed the plains, including the state capital Dehradun. Pilgrimage centres and hill stations such as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Auli, Mussoorie, Chakrata, Dhanaulti, and Uttarkashi were covered in a thick blanket of snow. The change in weather drew tourists to several destinations, particularly Mussoorie, where visitors were seen thronging the Mall Road and sharing snowfall videos on social media. Apple growers and horticulturists across the hill districts also welcomed the precipitation, which is crucial for winter crops. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand, warning of fairly widespread to widespread rainfall and snowfall on January 22 and 23 due to an intense western disturbance affecting the western Himalayan region. The IMD has also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph, reaching up to 60 kmph, on January 23, along with isolated heavy rainfall or snowfall in higher reaches and …
