Shimla/Manali, Jan 23 (NationPress) After a prolonged wait, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh and Manali witnessed their first snowfall of the season on Friday, igniting excitement among tourists eager to enjoy the snow-laden scenery and marking the end of over three months of dry weather.

“Since morning, Shimla and its surrounding regions have been blanketed in snow, marking this as the first snowfall of the season in Shimla town,” stated an official from the Meteorological Department to IANS.

Areas near Shimla, including Kufri and Narkanda, have also welcomed snowfall, enhancing the beauty of these tourist hotspots.

As the news of snowfall spread, visitors flocked to Shimla, celebrated for its grand colonial architecture that once served as the summer capital during the British Raj. Similarly, Manali, a stunning resort in the Kullu district, has been experiencing snowfall as well.

“We are grateful to the heavens for this enchanting white cover,” expressed Nidhi Gupta, a tourist from Ludhiana in Punjab, who was in Shimla with friends.

The snowy scenery in Shimla is expected to remain for a day or two, according to a Meteorological Office official. “Moderate snowfall has been reported in high-altitude areas such as Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kullu, Kinnaur, Sirmaur, Mandi, and Shimla districts,” the official added.

The majestic Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra have received a fresh layer of snow. Kalpa, located approximately 250 km from the state capital, along with Keylong in the Lahaul and Spiti district, has seen significant snowfall.

In lower regions of the state, including Dharamsala, Palampur, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur, and Mandi, rain has occurred, resulting in a notable drop in temperatures.

The snowfall has provided much-needed relief to farmers and fruit growers, whose orchards were under stress due to the preceding dry spell.

On another note, traffic movement beyond Dhalli, 10 km from Shimla, has been halted as a significant stretch of the Hindustan-Tibet Road is covered in deep snow. The entire Kinnaur district and several towns in Shimla district, including Narkanda, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Kumarsain, Kharapathar, Rohru, and Chopal, remain inaccessible due to heavy snowfall, according to a government official.

The Meteorological Office reported that a Western disturbance—a storm system originating from the Mediterranean-Caspian Sea region and traversing the Afghanistan-Pakistan area—will continue to be active until Sunday, bringing further rain and snow. Following the cessation of precipitation, temperatures could drop by three to four degrees, warned a meteorologist.