Sudden change in weather in Himachal Pradesh has led to snow on higher reaches of the state while widespread rain has been reported in several parts with return of chill.
The dark clouds during the day hovered over Shimla and other towns of Himachal. Snowfall on higher reaches and in tourist town Manali intensified the cold wave.
Nearly one thousand tourist vehicles were stuck due to fresh snowfall around the Atal Tunnel and Dhundi , as roads became slippery and were rescued by police teams on Sunday evening . Snow was also recorded in and around Manali town during the past 24 hours.
Shikari Devi and Shatadhar peaks in Mandi district, Dhauladhar range in Kangra district, Dalhousie, Khajjiar and Kalatop in Chamba district also were covered with light snowfall.
Several other regions of Himachal Pradesh are experiencing a spell of intermittent rain and hailstorm. Rain has been reported from Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, Sirmaur, Chamba, Solan, Kangra, Una and Bilaspur districts on Sunday and on Monday.
The change in weather has broken a dry spell prevailing for several weeks in Himachal Pradesh and has been widely welcomed by orchardists and farmers.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, light to moderate rain and snowfall is likely to continue till March 21. The center has issued an orange alert of heavy rain and snowfall on March 19 for the districts of Kullu, Kangra, and Chamba.
Light to moderate rain and snowfall are expected at several locations across the state on March 16 and 18. While Chamba, Shimla, and Solan faced a similar alert for hailstorms accompanied by hailstorm.
