Shimla, Feb 28 (IANS): The cold wave intensified in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday with several places in the state witnessing more spells of snow in the past 24 hours.

The temperature remained near the freezing point in many places, an India Meteorological Department official here told IANS.

The state capital, which saw a low of minus 2 degree Celsius, was lashed by snow. So was Kalpa, some 250 km from here, that experienced five cm of snowfall and a low of minus 7.6 degree, the official said.

Keylong, headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti district, was the coldest in the state at minus 13 degree Celsius.

Lower areas of the state including Dharamsala, Palampur, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi towns received moderate rain, bringing down the temperature considerably.

Dalhousie recorded a low of minus 3.5 degree Celsius while it was minus 3.6 degree in Manali and 2.4 degrees in Dharamsala.

"The high hills in Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu and Chamba districts have experienced moderate to heavy snow in the past 24 hours," said a weather department official.

He said the weather would be now dry till March 1 but a fresh western disturbance would affect the western Himalayan region from March 2, bringing more rain and snow.