If Partial Solar Eclipse was the cynosure in the foreign lands of North-East Asia and the Pacific Ocean on Sunday, January 6, 2019, here, in India, the beau ideal was the snowfall in the historic, romantic, and pristine hill-station of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
Just as the Met Department predicted, Sunday, January 6, witnessed the white flakes bringing cheers and joy for the locals and tourists alike.
The heavy snowfall covered Shimla and surrounding areas like a blanket with the revellers thronging to famous spots like the Ridge and Mall Road.
The Shimla administration was ready with an action plan for the imminent snowfall.
Deputy Commissioner Shimla Amit Kashyap on Wednesday reviewed the preparedness of various departments and action plan for effective disaster management.
All Sub-Divisional Magistrates have been asked to get regular updates on the restoration of roads, electricity, water supply, and essential services from the concerned departments so that people do not face any inconvenience during the snowfall.
A control room has already been established in the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC).
The Shimla helpline number is 1077 for all purposes.
The administration has also identified various priority roads for clearance during the snowfall. Issues regarding the supply of essential commodities, services of the health department, the supply of milk and milk products, connectivity services by BSNL, and management of traffic have also been looked into, said Deputy Commissioner Shimla Amit Kashyap.