Snow in Shimla, Manali surprises Holi revellers

Shimla: The hills of picturesque tourist resorts of Manali, Shimla and Kufri on Friday were again wrapped up in a blanket of snow, surprising Holi revellers.While Shimla got mild overnight snow, upper areas like Kufri, Narkanda, Jubbal and Kotkhai received moderate snowfall, according to a Met official here. The minimum temperature in the state capital was 1.7 degrees Celsius.

Manali and its nearby hills like the Solang ski slopes experienced more snowfall. Manali town, which saw a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, recorded eight cm of snow.The high hills in Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla and Chamba districts obtained light to moderate snowfall, said the official.

Tourist Ramandeep Singh said: "We were lucky to witness snowfall in Kufri last evening (Thursday)."Kalpa in Kinnaur district was the coldest place in the state with a minimum temperature of minus eight degrees Celsius. Itrecorded nine cm of snow.

While Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district saw a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, it was 6.8 degree Celsius in Dharamsala.The Met Office has forecast more spells of rain and snow in the state between March 8 and 9.