Season's first snow fall hits Northern India, shuts highways and restricts movement

An overwhelming moment of joy for tourists and locals alike after a long dry spell this year, as Himachal Pradesh receives its first snowfall for this season in the month of November. Manali, Kufri and nearby destinations are mounted with snow, currently.

Manali, Shimla's Narkanda and Kufri — a popular hill station, receives this season's first snowfall, as the temperature drops to minus 5 degree celsius. According to reports, Shimla has already received 2cm of snowfall, whereas, Pir Panjal range and Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir receives heavy snowfall.

Locals and travellers have got the social media platforms storming with the pictures and videos of the recent snowfall, enrapturing the natural beauty of the hills, villages, house rooftops, streets and roads covered with heaps of snow.

Icy winds and snowfall lasting overnight have already frozen the locals. The snowy refreshing mornings showing the drop dead gorgeous features of thenorth India are encapsulating the crowd. Amidst this, some of the locals also tweet about their struggles insurviving the ongoing climate without electricity,gas and the difficultyin travelling, adding to the list.

Badrinath temple in Chamoli district also witnesses fresh snowfall and the devotees are seen to be enjoying the snowfall outside the temple.Many roads like the Narkanda, Kharapathar and Khirki have been blocked from further movements due to the heavy snowfall.

Although the local police is maintaining the smooth flow of traffic, they are expecting more tourists rushing to witness the snowfall in Kufri. NHW44, the Jammu-Srinagarnational highway, closed at Jawahar tunnel area due to snowfall and slippery weather conditions.

(reported Farha Zulthana, Edited by Rinu Razak )