Most of tourist destinations of the state received first but heavy snowfall of the year. The state capital Shimla and other famous tourist destinations Kufri, Narkanda, Khara-Patthar, Chopal, Manali, Keylong, Sangla and Kalpa have received first snowfall of the season, while higher reaches of the state again covered with the while carpet.
The mid and lower regions of the state experienced widespread rain, breaking the prolonged dry spell and also dropped temperature to below normal at most of places.
With the heavy snowfall, tourists have been stranded at Rohtang and Hindustan-Tibet National Highway. The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway 21 has been closed for vehicles near Patlikuhl, 20 km before Manali. As per reports most of them have been rescued, but as many as 20 of them were still stuck at Marhi near Manali.
The entire Kinnaur district and towns in Shimla district such as Narkanda, Jubbal, Rohru, Kumarsain, Kharapathar and Chopal have been cut off from the rest of the state
Vehicular movement has been come to standstill in upper Shimla, Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti. Motorists were using alternative roads to reach Shimla as vehicles from Deha (Balson), Kotkhai and Ghund were coming via Balag-Neripur-Solan road, while from Rampur side vehicles were plying via Dhami and Basantpur.
The state government has advised tourists not to venture into remote areas of the state as chances of snow were high in the next 24 hours.
