Mercury freezes Himachal hills

Temperatures remained below the freezing point at many places in Himachal Pradesh on Monday owing to last week's snow and widespread rain, the weather bureau said, adding the weather would largely remain dry now.

Keylong, headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti district, was the coldest at a minimum temperature of minus 8.1 degrees Celsius.

Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded a low of minus four degrees Celsius, while the temperature was 8.2 degrees in Dharamsala, minus 2.2 degrees in Manali and 2.2 degrees in Solan.

The state capital, which snow last week, saw a low of 1.8 degree Celsius, almost eight degrees below the normal temperature.

"Most places are likely to experience dry weather this week," a weatherman told IANS.