PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
After a long, dry winter, Dehradun finally saw its first rainfall while Mussoorie woke up to the season’s maiden snowfall on Friday, bringing a burst of excitement among the residents across the city.
Looking elated with the sudden and long-awaited change in weather, two youngsters, Akriti Sharma and Rahul Goswami said that the rain and snowfall have made the weather refreshing after weeks of dry conditions since January. “The weather has now become quite pleasant. We are planning to visit George Everest in Mussoorie today,” said Akriti. “We know quite well that there would be a huge crowd in the hill station due to the snowfall, but we do not mind as it is uncertain whether we will have more rain/snow in the remainder of this winter, given the nature of the quirky weather,” enthused Rahul.
However, some residents highlighted the inconvenience caused by the rain-triggered traffic congestion. A Doonite, Sudarshana Chettri said that the weather change coincided with a working day, making it difficult for them to commute. “The Rajpur–Mussoorie Road has been diverted and vehicles are being routed through Sahastradhara, which is witnessing heavy traffic. I faced severe congestion on Chunabhatta Road while heading to my office,” she said.
Several residents this correspondent talked to noted that the tourists are preferring popular nearby destinations such as Cloud End, Landour and Dhanaulti to witness snowfall and enjoy the chill. However, there are many who said that they loved a cosy indoor celebration of the winter rain and the revived winter chill. “I am enjoying the rainy weather quietly at home with tea, pakoras and a bonfire,” said a resident, Ansh Verma.
