Winter bliss: Shimla braces for white Christmas

The 'Queen of Hills' dons white mantle just before Christmas after a gap of 9 years; MeT has also predicted snowfall on Dec 27,29

- Dar Ovais

DHARAMSHALA: The capital city and 'Queen of Hills'--Shimla--on Monday experienced season's second snowfall, bringing joy to both locals and tourists, along with heightening the festive spirit.

The fresh snowfall on Monday sparked the hope for white Christmas this year.

Shimla was among a few tourist destinations in the state that received fresh snowfall on Monday as India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Shimla office predicted light snowfall in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh.

Snowfall was also experienced in nearby tourist spots of Kufri and Narkanda, besides higher reaches, including Kharapathar, Chaurdhar and Chanshal, the weather officer said. The plains, however, continued to shiver under severe coldwave conditions.

It is after a gap of nine years that Shimla has experienced the pre-Christmas snowfall. This year, this was the second snowfall spell in Shimla. Shimla received the first snowfall on December 9.

IMD scientist Shobhit Katiyar said that Shimla has witnessed snowfall in December after a gap of three years.