People walk at historic Ridge Road after fresh snowfall in Shimla
Normal life was hit and vehicular traffic disrupted as the state capital and adjoining areas had the first heavy snowfall of the season while lower hills experienced widespread heavy rains.
The vehicular traffic on Hindustan-Tibet National highway was closed beyond Dhalli. Rampur and Kinnaur bound vehicles are being routed via Dhami-Basantpur-Kingal road, while several link roads in Shimla were closed due to heavy snow.
Shimla-Kalka road and other roads connecting the state capital with lower hills were open.
Theog-Hatkoti road was opened for traffic this afternoon.
Shimla received 20 cm of snow while Jakoo, Kufri, Wildflower Hall and Fagu recorded 35 cm to 45 cm snowfall.
The key tourist resort of Narkanda had 55 cm of snow while ski slopes at Kufri and Narkanda were covered under 50 to 60 cm of snow bringing cheer to ski.
Theog and Kotkhai recorded 35 and 30 cm of snow. Sangla, Chitkul and Rekong Peo received 6 mm, 15 cm and 4 cm of snow.
The key tourist resorts of Chail and Kasauli and Karol Tibba received moderate snowfall while Solan had flakes for the first time in the season.
Tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti and Pangi and Bharmaur had mild snowfall but mercury stayed at minus 13.1 degree C while Shimla shivered under freezing cold with mercury plummeting to zero degree.
Manali and Nahan reeled under severe cold with mercury dropping by few notches to stay at 1.2 degree and 1.1 degree and Solan and Una recorded a low of 2.2 degree and 3.5 degree Celsius.
Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, Dinesh Malhotra reviewed the situation and directed the officials to ensure that the roads were cleared.
Shimla-Kalka road and roads linking lower areas of Kangra, Hamirpur and Mandi with state headquarter remained open.
The snowfall was mild in tribal areas and mercury rose by two degrees to stay at minus 4.5 degree and minus 3.0 degree at Keylong and Kalpa. Manali and Kullu did not receive any snow but icy winds lashed the region.
Lower areas were lashed by rains and Nahan and Sangrah in Sirmaur recorded 41 and 37mm rains while Arki and rajgarh had 31 mm and 30 mm rains, followed by Sunnibhajji 28 mm, Kandhaghat, Solan Jubbar Hatti 27 mm and Kotkhai 23 mm.
Maximum day temperatures dropped by few notches as sky remained heavily overcast and Una recorded a high of 14.4 degrees.
Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded a high of 13.2 degree and 13.0 degree, followed by Kangra at 12.1 degree, Nahan 11.0 degree, Dharamsala 10.5 degree, Shimla 7.5 degree and Kalpa 4.0 degree Celsius.
Tourists were making a bee-line for Shimla as snowfall coincided with week end holidays.