Mercury rises in Himachal, but more snow in store

The hills of Himachal Pradesh Saturday saw a rise in the temperatures due to prevailing dry weather, but the Met Office forecast rain and more snowfall in the next three days.

"There are chances of more rainfall and snowfall in the state from April 6 to 8," a meteorological office statement said.

It said the western disturbances - storm systems originating from Caspian Sea and moving across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region - would start active in the region from April 6.

Most of the prominent tourist towns like Shimla, Narkanda, Kufri, Manali and Dalhousie, located in mid-hills, may witness rain, it added.

Bharmour in Chamba district was the coldest place in the state Saturday with a low of minus 2.1 degrees.

Shimla recorded the minimum temperature at 11.7 degrees, while it was 4.6 degrees Kalpa in Kinnaur district, 4.4 degrees in Manali and 11.4 degrees at Dharamsala.

These towns recorded the day temperature at 21.6, 18.4, 17.4 and 23.2 degrees Celsius.

Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district, which experienced mild snow, recorded a low of 2 degrees below freezing point, whereas the maximum stayed at 11.1 degrees Celsius.