Widespread snowfall and rainfall came as a relief to the farmers of the hill state on Monday, breaking the over four month long dry spell.
The Hindustan-Tibet highway beyond Shimla leading to the apple heartland has been blocked due to heavy snowfall at Kufri and Narkanda.
A white blanket of snow covered much of the apple belt in Shimla district.
The popular tourist resort town of Manali saw almost 30 cm of snowfall bringing cheer to tourists who have thronged the town for the five day winter carnival games which began over the weekend.
The tribal belt of Lahaul, Spiti,Kinnaur and Bharmaur witnessed heavy spell of snowfall.
Dhundi in Lahaul recorded the heaviest snowfall in the region at 121 cm.
“Moderate to Heavy snowfall will occur at a few places in the next 48 hours,” Manmohan Singh, Director, of the Indian meterological department here.
While the mid and higher hills recorded snowfall, the parched lower hills experienced rainfall.
