After a snowy Sunday in Shimla, the Himachal Pradesh capital remained blanketed in white after a fresh spell on Monday.
Heavy rains early on Sunday were followed by the first snowfall of the season in Shimla and the surrounding areas of Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda. Some areas received up to six inches of snowfall.
After an extended dry spell, the rain was welcomed by farmers apprehensive about their withering rabi crop, while the snow was beneficial for the apple cultivators. However, the weather resulted in treacherous driving conditions and there were reports of traffic jams in Shimla and popular tourist spots such as Rohtang.
The Lahaul valley and a hundred panchayat areas in Transgiri area of Sirmaur were without electricity. Mobile networks were also not functioning till Sunday evening, according to PTI.
According to Skymet, a Western Disturbance was responsible for the fresh snowfall. More snowfall is expected over the next few days.
The maximum temperature of 5.2°C on Sunday was the lowest of the season. The temperature climbed to 8°C on Monday as the weather cleared up.
Here what it looked like.
Beautiful Shimla after first snowfall of the season #IncredibleIndia @nanditathhakur @TajinderBagga pic.twitter.com/0FObru0h0R
— पुनीत शर्मा (@iSharmaPuneet) February 7, 2016
Today Himachali Nati Practice in Snow at Historic Mall Road Shimla. 1000 Nati Dancers will perform in @WCF2016 !! pic.twitter.com/HD8MAGiG1V
— ArtofLiving Himachal (@AolHimachal) February 7, 2016
Shimla Snow Fall https://t.co/kyLaQquWJH #shimla #snowfall #shimlasnowfall
— ajay jha (@ajayshankerjha) February 8, 2016
Ridge, Shimla after snowfall today. https://t.co/VzIBEKknud pic.twitter.com/PJBG2rrD92
— Anuj (@qanuj) February 8, 2016
Nice and clear sunny day after yesterday snowfall at Shimla @shimlalife @hptdc pic.twitter.com/V13OyQw6Qy
— Suresh Thakur (@sureshthakur) February 8, 2016
Temperature dips in #Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) as the city receives heavy snowfall. pic.twitter.com/YK2Q4LfgBj
— Sagar Khandelwal (@Khandelw13Sagar) February 8, 2016
Shimla and its surrounding areas experience first snowfall of the season#AIRPics : Shishu Shantal pic.twitter.com/ZsiyTbO6Gm
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) February 7, 2016