1820 hours, 04-02-2021, Boileauganj, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India: As predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department, the northern region experienced rainfall and snow throughout. Shimla received the season’s second snowfall today. It started snowing in the morning and just in a matter of 5-6 hours an average of about a feet of snow had accumulated on the ground, which by my experience is one of the fastest accumulation of snow I have seen around my house (considering the higher surface and atmospheric temperatures during daytime and making it difficult for the snow to settle).

The rain and snow also came as a relief to the region with people worried about the drought that set in almost a month ago. I witnessed it first hand during my visit to Rampur a week back where I could see the leaves on the Eucalyptus trees wilted due to lack of moisture. I could also see that many mountain tops which used to be engulfed in snow during the winter season were revealing their barren, rocky and grassy tops void of the snow. There was less rainfall last year which has already affected the crops in most parts of the state. Some spring water sources have also been reported to have dried out. Hope nature balances things out soon and people take climate change serioously.