📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / ArunMuraliNair
Weather
Snowfall Closes Shinkula, Baralacha and Kunzum Passes in Himachal Pradesh
✍️ The News Himachal
🗓 13 Nov 2026, 05:02 PM
👁 18
Heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh forced authorities to shut Shinkula, Baralacha and Kunzum mountain passes, halting vehicular movement.
Heavy snowfall swept across the high ranges of Himachal Pradesh on Monday, prompting the state’s transport department to close three key mountain passes – Shinkula, Baralacha and Kunzum. The sudden accumulation of snow made the roads unsafe for both private and commercial vehicles.
The closures have disrupted travel between the Lahaul‑Spiti valley and the rest of the state, with authorities advising commuters to seek alternative routes or postpone journeys until conditions improve. Local police have been deployed to enforce the bans and to assist stranded motorists.
State officials said they are monitoring the situation continuously and will issue updates on when the passes can be reopened. No injuries have been reported so far, but the weather is expected to remain unsettled for the next 48 hours, potentially extending the shutdown.
The closures have disrupted travel between the Lahaul‑Spiti valley and the rest of the state, with authorities advising commuters to seek alternative routes or postpone journeys until conditions improve. Local police have been deployed to enforce the bans and to assist stranded motorists.
State officials said they are monitoring the situation continuously and will issue updates on when the passes can be reopened. No injuries have been reported so far, but the weather is expected to remain unsettled for the next 48 hours, potentially extending the shutdown.