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Heavy snowfall in Himachal attracts tourists

          Shimla/Manali (Himachal Pradesh): Fresh snowfall in Himachal Pradesh has triggered a spurt in tourist arrivals. Several hotspots in the state like Shimla were covered in a mantle of white, with tourists enjoying the snow. They said they had great fun on the snow-capped slopes. "First time, I have seen snowfall. Before coming here, we prayed that we get to see the snowfall and it so happened. We are very happy," said Ashish Aggarwal, a tourist. Meanwhile, authorities worked overtime to clear snow-blocked roads in nearby Manali. "For the last two days, Manali has received about 80 centimeters of snowfall. Road has been cleared for small vehicles. We have deployed national highway and public work development commission machinery for this purpose," said Vinay Thakur, District Magistrate of Manali. The economy of picturesque Himachal Pradesh is heavily dependent on tourism. More than three million domestic and foreign tourists visit the state annually.
-March 2,  2007