More snowfall predicted in Himachal

Shimla, Feb 13 (IANS) After days of dry weather, the hills of Himachal Pradesh might experience more rains and snowfall next week, the weather office here said Friday.

"There are chances of widespread rainfall and snowfall across the state from Feb 16 to 19," the meteorological office said in a statement.

It said the western disturbances - storm systems originating from Caspian Sea and moving across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region - are likely to be active in the region by Feb 15.

Most of the prominent tourist towns like Shimla, Narkanda, Kufri, Kalpa, Dalhousie and Manali are likely to have light to moderate spells of snowfall from Feb 16, an official told IANS.

The Met department's forecast has brought cheer to the state's hospitality industry as snow is the biggest driving force for the tourists from the plains.

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest place in the state Friday with a low of minus 11.3 degrees.

The state capital recorded the minimum temperature at 6.3 degrees, while it was minus 7.4 degrees in Kalpa in Kinnaur district, minus 1.4 degrees in Manali, 6.6 degrees in Dharamsala and 7.6 degrees in Dalhousie.