India, Jan. 23 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday issued a fresh alert for widespread snowfall and rainfall across Himachal Pradesh, warning of continued disruption to daily life over the weekend even as commuters struggled on slippery stretches and traffic jams were the order of the day following the season's first significant spell.

According to the IMD, a new western disturbance is set to impact the state on January 26, bringing multiple spells of moderate to heavy snowfall and snowstorms in several districts of the hill state over the subsequent days.

Sandeep Kumar Sharma, a senior scientist at IMD, Shimla, said: "A western disturbance has been active over Himachal Pradesh since Thursday night. Consequently, rain...