Himachal reels under severe cold conditions

Shimla, Dec 16 (IANS) Large parts of Himachal Pradesh reeled under severe cold conditions on Saturday, with the minimum temperature at several places plunging below freezing point, weather officials said.

State capital Shimla, which experienced an overnight temperature of 4.6 degrees Celsius, basked in sunny weather on Saturday.

Popular tourist destination Manali, which experienced mild snow two days ago, recorded a low of minus 0.6 degrees.

Kalpa, some 250 km from here in Kinnaur district, saw a low of minus three degrees while it was minus 8.7 degrees in Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district, the coldest in the state.

According to a Met official here, cold conditions would continue in the hill state despite dry weather till December 19.

Those involved in tourism sector said they are happy over snow at several tourist destinations.

"We are now hopeful that snow will attract tourists this weekend," said a Shimla hotelier.