Dharamshala, Feb. 20 -- The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Shimla office has sounded an orange alert for Thursday as heavy rain and snowfall is expected over parts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi districts.

MeT officials said that a few spells of light snowfall with one or two moderate spells is very likely over most of the tourist destinations in the state, including Kufri, Narkanda, Manali, Solang Valley, Dalhousie and Sissu and adjoining areas and few spells of light rain or snowfall over Shimla city and adjoining areas on Thursday.

Also, light snowfall is likely at many places with few spells of moderate snowfall very likely in the districts Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and over the higher reaches of Kangra, Chamba, Shimla, Kul...