Shimla sees season's heaviest shower of ice pellets

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla witnessed the season`s heaviest precipitation of ice pellets on Thursday, pushing down the mercury by several notches and covering the city in a white shroud.

"Shimla and its surrounding areas were lashed by heavy hailstorms," Manmohan Singh, Director of the meteorological office here, told IANS.

Nearby places like Kufri and Narkanda experienced moderate snowfall. Manali too received moderate snow, he said.

"High-altitude areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba, Mandi, Kullu, Kinnaur, Sirmaur and Shimla districts have been experiencing moderate snowfall since Tuesday," the official said.

The Met Office has forecast snow and rain across the state till Friday.