The people of Badani, Dunera, Dharkalan, Bhundal villages, which are located five to seven kilomenters from Pathankot city, and villages including Alera, Chareha, Slagru, Kartoli, Bhavnaur, Darapur, Bholl Badmania, Sukhchianpur, Birring, Kumahi Devi in Talwara block of Mukerian Subdivision of Hoshiarpur district witnessed snow fall for nearly 90 minutes.

People from city areas of both the districts thronged to these villages to witness the rare event in the semi-hilly terrain.

“It was really unbelievable,” said Vijay Pasi of Pathankot. ``For the first few moments, I could not believe that it was actually snow fall. But soon my clothes were covered by a thin layer of snow,” he added.

Nidhi, a teenager from Talwara, said she was travelling with her family when they noticed the snow flakes. Her excited family members came out to enjoy the snowfall. Pathankot also witnessed 106 mm rain fall, officials at the Met department at Adampur Airforce Station, Jalandhar, said.

In Talwara, locals claimed that the area witnessed nearly 12 inches snow fall, but most of it melted away due to heavy rain fall. However, two to three inches of snow was still visible in these areas till late in the evening.

Deputy Commissioner, Pathankot, Sibin C, said that the locals informed him that the area had never ever witnessed snowfall.

The met officials, however, could not elaborate the reasons behind the event.

It may be noted that weather has been quite chilly in this part since Friday afternoon and heavy rain fall was witnessed here.