Shimla, March 1 (IANS) The higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh Monday received mild snowfall while the lower areas witnessed moderate rain, the weatherman said.

'The hills of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu and Chamba districts experienced mild spells of snow early this morning,' Manmohan Singh, the director of the meteorological office here, told IANS.

He said Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti, saw 15 cm of snow. The town was the coldest place in the state, recording a low of minus 3.9 degrees Celsius.

Lower areas of the state including Solan, Shimla and Mandi towns received moderate rain. He attributed the fresh snow and rain to 'western disturbances'.