Shimla struggles to cope with record snowfall

The Shimla Snow Manual lists the responsibilities and duties of the administration during snowfall, such as the setting up of control rooms, deploying men and machinery to clear roads and pathways, as well as maintaining power and drinking water supplies. The district administration, before the onset of winter every year, holds a meeting to review measures and assign duties to handle any emergency in case of heavy snow. Officials admit that for the past many decades, this meeting -- called the snow manual meeting -- has become a mere ritual. "Over the years, the intensity of snowfall in Shimla has decreased. So the snow manual has lost its relevance," said an official, who did not wish to be named.