INDIA'S NORTHERN STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH RECEIVES FIRST SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

DURATION: 2.11

SOURCE: ANI

TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS: NO ACCESS BBC

India's northern state of Himachal Pradesh receives first snowfall of the season.

Dharamsala region of India's northern Himachal Pradesh state receives first snowfall of the season on New Year's Day.

SHOWS:

DHARAMSALA, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA (JANUARY 01, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. HILLS

2. RAIN DROPS

3. CARS WADING THROUGH RAINFALL AND SNOWFALL

4. TEMPORARY CAMPS COVERED WITH SNOW

5. TOURISTS INSIDE A HUT

6. TOURISTS WALKING

7. A FAMILY ENJOYING SNOWFALL

8. A GROUP OF FRIENDS THROWING SNOW BALLS AT EACH OTHER

9. YOUTHS THROWING SNOWBALLS

10. YOUTHS SHOUTING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PANKAJ, A TOURIST, SAYING:"The environment has become good. It wasn't raining here for quite some time and this is the season's first rainfall. Snowfall began with the rainfall and the tourists are very happy about it and we came here to enjoy the snowfall and we are enjoying ourselves."

12. TOURISTS AND LOCALS SHELTERING THEMSELVES FROM RAINFALL

13. A BUSY MARKET AREA

14. CHILDREN THROWING SNOWBALLS AT EACH OTHER

15. A DEPARTMENT STORE OWNER SETTLING NEWSPAPERS

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) JOGINDER PATHANIA, OWNER OF A DEPARTMENT STORE, SAYING:"For the last two days it had been raining and there was a good rainfall that McLeod Ganj received and the whole district of Kangra is experiencing rainfall. And the upper regions of Dharamkot and Kinnaur have received a lot of snowfall. Even at this time Kinnaur is covered with 3 feet snow. Even in Dharamkot villages the snow level is about 6 inches. We are expecting more tourists in the days to come. It is also good for the crop and will solve the problem of water shortage."

17. VEHICLES STUCK IN A NARROW LANE

18. HILLS

STORY: Dharamsala region of India's northern Himachal Pradesh state received its first snowfall of the season on Saturday (January 01) along with some heavy showers.

The long wait for tourists visiting the region was over on Saturday as the combination of snowfall and rainfall added to their holiday mood of New Years.

Tourists and locals were seen enjoying the snowfall by making snowballs and throwing at each other.

"The environment has become good. It wasn't raining here for quite some time and this is the season's first rainfall. Snowfall began with the rainfall and the tourists are very happy about it and we came here to enjoy the snowfall and we are enjoying ourselves," said Pankaj, a tourist.

Children were seen enjoying the snowfall with their family members.

Joginder Pathania, an owner of a departmental store, said that the rainfall will bring relief to farmers and locals in the region.

"For the last two days it had been raining and there was a good rainfall that McLeod Ganj received and the whole district of Kangra is experiencing rainfall. And the upper regions of Dharamkot and Kinnaur have received a lot of snowfall. Even at this time Kinnaur is covered with 3 feet snow. Even in Dharamkot villages the snow level is about 6 inches. We are expecting more tourists in the days to come. It is also good for the crop and will solve the problem of water shortage," he said.

For many, the state is a holiday paradise especially during winters.

Hundreds of tourists flock to the region to witness the first snowfall of the season.

Hotels and guest houses take the opportunity to attract tourists to stay in the city.

Mild snowfall in the higher reaches of the Himalayas and intermittent rain in foothills of the state, including Shimla, Kasauli, Kufri, Palampur and Chamba districts, brought the temperatures down sharply.