Fresh snowfall in higher reaches of Himachal

    Shimla, Oct 6 (PTI) The higher reaches of Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh received snowfall for the second day on Monday, leading to a drop in the minimum temperature and bringing cheer for the tourism industry.
    Gondhla and Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district received 5 cm and 4 cm of snowfall respectively. Rohtang Pass, Mari and Atal Tunnel in the suburbs of the tourist resort of Manali also received snowfall, officials said.
    Snowfall in the month of October brought smiles to the faces of those engaged in the tourism sector and allied businesses as the state, especially Kullu-Manali and Lahaul and Spiti, suffered widespread damage due to flooding in the Beas river during the monsoon season, which hit tourist footfalls.
    Snowfall in early October could draw tourists to the state and help compensate for the losses, said a businessman from Manali, Roshan Thakur.
    Snowfall in the valley's higher peaks caused the mercury to drop and people were seen in woollens.
    "It snowed on Sunday as well but it was sunny throughout the valley. However, the weather got cold today," said a resident, Shalini Roy.
    Manali has received 43 mm of rain since Sunday, followed by 42 mm in Guler, 38.4 mm in Nagrota Suriyan, 37 mm in Bharwain, 35.5 mm in Bharmaur, 35 mm in Dehra Gopipur, 34.2 mm in Pachhad, 34 mm in Nahan, 33.6 mm in Solan, 34 mm in Kangra, 33 mm in Bhuntar, 32.8 mm in Aghar, 29.2 mm in Mandi, 28 mm each in Shimla and Nadaun, and 27 mm in Murari Devi, according to official data.
    Thunderstorms were witnessed in Jot, Murari Devi, Sundernagar, Bhunter, Kangra, Palampur and Shimla. Gusty winds, with speed ranging between 41 and 57 kmph, swept Hamirpur, Narkanda, Kufri, Bajaura, Reckong Peo, Tabo and Kotkhai.
    Shimla Meteorological Office Director Kuldeep Srivastav said a strong western disturbance will impact the state for the next two days and intermittent rain is expected in all districts, with a possibility of heavy rain in Kangra and Chamba districts, and snow in Lahaul and Spiti.
    The minimum and maximum temperatures have also witnessed a significant drop with Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti recording a low of 0.1 degrees Celsius. Dhaulakuan in Sirmaur district was the hottest place with a maximum temperature of 26.7 degrees Celsius. The weather will remain mainly dry from October 9, Srivastav said.
    The weather office has issued a yellow warning of heavy rain and snow accompanied with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in isolated areas of Chamba, Kangra, Mandi and Lahaul and Spiti on Tuesday.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)