AT LEAST five people lost their lives in an avalanche, triggered by heavy snowfall in Jungra panchayat of Tissa Sub Division of Chamba district, yesterday afternoon, according to SP Chamba Madhusudan Sharma.

Normal life in various parts of Himachal Pradesh was badly affected due to heavy snowfall. The cold wave swept through the entire state, decreasing the minimum temperature.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has directed the administration to provide immediate relief to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in this accident and provide best treatment to the injured persons. Those who lost their lives are Shri Lal Sen, Usuf, Shri Rasim Muhammad, Haneef Muhammad and Baghusan. Musa and Haneef were injured.

Several parts of the State also witnessed heavy rainfall with thundershowers. Temperature in most parts of the State neared freezing point, especially in upper Himachal districts which include Shimla, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Chamba.

Saloni in Chamba recorded 75 cm of snowfall while Tissa also in Chamba district recorded 60 cm of snowfall during last the 24 hours. Even the State Capital was not spared as it recorded 8 cm of snowfall with minimum temperature of minus 1.8 degree Celsius.

Roads in upper area are yet to be opened and several parts in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti have been under complete blackout with no electricity for last one week. Public Works Department (PWD) and district administration are working round the clock to open the important roads for ensuring supply of essential commodities but fresh snowfall is turning out to be a roadblock.

Manmohan Singh, director of Meteorological Centre, Shimla said that a system of western disturbances is again building over the neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir and is likely to affect the State on January 22 and January 23. "Possibility of rain and snow cannot be ruled out in the state on these days, due to the system developing," said Singh.

Meanwhile, transportation by Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) is being restored to upper district, which was disrupted since past 15 days due to blockade of important roads. Due to heavy snowfall, important rivers including Sutlej have frozen reducing the electricity production by around 20 per cent. Industrial areas at Solan district and even the State Capital are witnessing power cuts due to low production of electricity.