Shimla, nearby areas wrapped in snow

Himachal Pradesh's capital Shimla and its nearby tourist destinations on Monday were wrapped in snow, giving them a picturesque look.

Towns in upper Shimla district were cut off with snow piled on roads, a Met official said.

This was the season's second significant snowfall that froze the "Queen of Hills", as Shimla was fondly called by the erstwhile British rulers.

As news of the snowfall spread, tourists started arriving here and nearby Kufri, Mashobra and Narkanda.

Hills overlooking Manali like Gulaba, Solang and Kothi have been experiencing snow since early Monday, the official here added.

Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of 1.1 degrees Celsius, while it was minus one degree in Kalpa in Kinnaur district.

"The higher reaches of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur and Chamba districts have been experiencing snowfall since early Monday, while mid and lower hills are experiencing rain," the official said.

The majestic Dhauladhar ranges in the Kangra valley got a fresh blanket of snow cover.

Lower areas of the state like Dharamsala, Palampur, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi towns received rain, bringing down the temperature considerably.

The entire Kinnaur district and towns in Shimla district such as Narkanda, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Kumarsain, Kharapathar, Rohru and Chopal are cut off due to snow, a government official said.

The Met Office said a Western Disturbance -- a storm system originating from the Mediterranean-Caspian Sea region and moving across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region -- would remain active till Tuesday, bringing more rain and snow.

--IANS

vg/in