Himachal, Kashmir receive season's first snowfall

Regions in the foothills of Himalayas in northern India received fresh fall of snowflakes on Sunday, much to the delight of hundreds of tourists from the plains and the local residents as well.

Despite the burst of cold weather amidst snowfall and icy winds, winter season is a boon for these states as the inflow of tourists is a bonanza for those engaged in hospitality and travel industry.

The snow-covered Shimla, ushered in cheerful mood among the hundreds of tourists and locals, just days before the Christmas.

"This is the first snowfall in Shimla region and in other hilly regions in northern India. With just a few days left for Christmas, this snowfall is giving us a feeling of white Christmas. This will be very profitable for many, especially the tourism industry," said Rajesh Singh, a resident of Shimla.

The fresh snowfall before dawn dipped the mercury further in the city, luring the tourists to regale in playing games and frolics in snow.

Srinagar also received the season's first snowfall on Sunday.

The snowfall started in the valley and other surrounding areas at midnight and continued till morning. Close to four to five inches of snowfall has been recorded in different areas of the valley.

The fresh spell of snow has been welcomed by the locals as it is a blessing for the agriculture and the tourism industry. They also said that the snowfall has broken the two month long dry spell.

"When we woke up in the morning around 4 am, we saw the snowfall. We are very happy after the first snowfall in the valley as in the last two months we had cold breezy winds blowing which had brought the temperature too low and it was harsh for the residents. This will also give a boost to tourism in the state," said Sajid Mohammed, a resident of Srinagar.

Snowfall in these regions had a direct impact as temperatures plummeted at many northern states in the heartland of India such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.