NEW DELHI, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh had received fresh snowfall, thus intensifying cold wave across plains and hilly areas, officials said on Sunday.
The snowfall started Saturday evening and continued until Sunday morning.
According to officials, popular tourist destinations in the state Shimla, Manali, Kalpa, Kullu and Dalhousie received a fresh spell of snowfall, disrupting normal life and affecting road connectivity.
People associated with the tourism industry described the snowfall as a positive sign.
"It's a good omen. Tourists here enjoyed the overnight snowfall and early in the morning they went out hurling snowballs at each other and capturing the precious moments in their mobile phones," Pawan Bhatt, a hotelier said.
"We are hopeful that more and more tourists would come here to enjoy the snow that has covered everything under it."
Meteorological department officials said the state's higher regions, low lying areas and plains in Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba districts received snowfall.
Officials said Dalhousie in Chamba district recorded 30 cm of snow, the highest in Himachal Pradesh, while as Manali and Kufri received 23 cm and 8 cm snow respectively.
"The higher reaches have experienced moderate to heavy snowfall, however, plains were lashed with rain," a meteorological department official said.
The fresh spell of snowfall has intensified the cold conditions in the state.
