Manali (Himachal Pradesh), Nov 9 (IANS) Popular tourist resort of Manali saw the season’s first snowfall Monday as severe cold intensified across Himachal Pradesh, the meteorological office said.
Hills overlooking Manali were covered in a thin sheet of white after the snowfall, said Manmohan Singh, director of the meteorological office in Shimla.

In Manali town, the fresh snow melted away by afternoon but snowfall began again by evening.

Generally, Manali gets its first snowfall by mid-December.

It has also been snowing in the tribal belt of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur. Kalpa in Kinnaur and Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti received 2 to 3 inches of snowfall.

The Rohtang Pass (13,050 feet) and the Baralacha Pass (16,020 ft) - located on the Manali-Leh highway - also experienced snow.

Lower areas of the state, including Dharamsala, Shimla, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur and Mandi received moderate to heavy rain, bringing the temperature down considerably.

“The maximum temperature at Shimla fell to 11.5 degrees Celsius from Sunday’s 21 degrees Celsius,” Shimla Met Office chief Manmohan Singh said.

“On an average, the maximum temperature across the state fell by 8 to 9 degrees Celsius,” he added.

The Met Office said there is a possibility of more snowfall and rain Tuesday.