Manali freezes at minus 0.4 degrees

Popular tourist destination Manali in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday saw the mercury drop below the freezing point, with its nearby hills wrapped in last week's snowfall.

The temperatures remained below the freezing point at many places located in the higher reaches in the state, the meteorological office here told IANS, adding it was likely to snow again in Himachal from November 24.

Keylong, headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti district, was the coldest with minus 7.7 degrees Celsius.

Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded a low of minus two degrees while the temperature was minus 0.4 degrees in Manali.

Shimla recorded a low of 6.1 degree Celsius while the temperature was 7.8 degrees in Dharamsala. The maximum temperature in both the cities stayed at 17.1 degrees and 17.8 degrees Celsius respectively.

"Hills in higher reaches are likely to experience mild to moderate snow from November 24 as the western disturbances are likely to be active in the Western Himalayas whereas mid and low hills may experience rain," a weatherman told IANS.

He said there were high chances of snow in the upper reaches of Kullu, Sirmaur, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Chamba districts. - IANS