Manali Gets More Snowfall; Rains Lash Shimla

Himachal Pradesh's popular tourist destination Manali and its nearby hill destinations received more snowfall in the past 24 hours, officials said on Thursday.

As news of the snowfall flashed across the plains, tourists started arriving at Manali and its nearby hills to celebrate the Holi festival.

Manali had been experiencing 4 cm of snow and saw a low of minus one degree Celsius.

Shimla saw a minimum temperature of 7.2 degrees Celsius, while it was minus 4 degrees in Kalpa in Kinnaur district, which saw 12 cm of snow, and 5.8 degrees in Dalhousie in Chamba district.

The day's temperature in Shimla was at 14.7 degrees Celsius.

"The higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur and Chamba districts experienced snowfall, while mid and lower hills had rain in the past 24 hours," the official said.

The Met department said a Western disturbance - a storm system originating from the Mediterranean-Caspian Sea region and moving across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region -- has withdrawn from the region.