Mussoorie, June 5 -- Kedarnath and Hemkunt Sahib were covered in a thick layer of snow on Wednesday, bringing joy to the devotees, many of whom witnessed snowfall in June for the first time. The India Meteorological Department in Dehradun reported light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, gusty winds, and hailstorms in parts of the state over the past 24 hours, till 8.30 am on Wednesday. At Kedarnath, snowfall began at around 10 am and continued until 4 pm, temple priests said. "The rooftops of many buildings, including the main shrine, were covered in a thick blanket of snow. By 4 pm, nearly two to three inches had accumulated, and if snowfall continues through the night, the total could reach one to two feet," said Anand Shukla, a priest at the shrine. Undeterred by the cold, devotees queued up for darshan. "This is my second visit to Kedarnath, but the first time my family has experienced snowfall in June," said Madhumita Singh, a pilgrim from Jaipur. Similar scenes were reported from Hemkunt Sahib in Chamoli district, where pilgrims braved the cold to take a holy dip in the sacred Sarovar amid light snowfall. "The snow did not deter us. Taking a dip in the Sarovar in such conditions is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Hardeep Singh from Moga, Punjab. Chamoli district magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said State Disaster Response Force teams and Gurdwara trust members cleared the snow from the pathways and assisted pilgrims. "Announcements are being made to guide visitors. Pilgrims are advised to wear warm clothing and, in case of adverse weather, remain at safe shelters before resuming the steep trek," he said....