Shimla sizzles, but high hills get snow

The hills of Himachal Pradesh continued to sizzle on Tuesday with Una recording a maximum temperature of 40.6 degrees Celsius and state capital Shimla a high of 29.3 degrees Celsius, the weatherman said.

But Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti, saw 3 cm of snow.

"Most of the towns saw high temperatures, despite overnight rains," Manmohan Singh, director of the meteorological office here, told IANS.

Like Keylong, the Rohtang Pass, 52 km from Manali, also experienced mild snow. However, the pass is still closed for the motorists.

He said Shimla's maximum temperature was four notches above the average.

Sundernagar in Mandi district recorded a high of 37.3 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature in Bhuntar in Kullu district was 32.5 degrees Celsius, Dharamsala in Kangra district was 32.4 degrees Celsius and Kalpa in Kinnaur district was 18 degrees Celsius.

Picturesque Kalpa and Manali towns saw 18 mm and 15 mm rain, respectively.

The Met department said a fresh western disturbance is likely as an upper air system would affect the western Himalayan region from May 29 onwards.