HAMIRPUR: After a long dry spell of months' together, lower hill areas of Himachal Pradesh comprising of the districts of Hamirpur, Una, Kangra and Chamba has light to medium rain that brought down the temperature. People were forced to take out heavy woolens to save them from the wrath of cold. 

Dhauladhar ranges of Himalayas connecting kangra with Chamba district had snow today and last night. Sky was still overcast and more snow was not ruled out. 

Worst affected were the school children who went to their schools without umbrellas and were caught by rains in between their homes and schools. They had to take shelter in nearby houses and shops. 

The rain brought cheers on the faces of the farmers who had sown their crops much in advance to make full use of the moisture lying under the soil. They are optimistic that this rain will help them to grow their crops and they will be able to get bumper Rabi crops this time.

The rain, however, dampened the spirit of the election parties as people skipped the processions to save them from the cold. They saw the processions of various political parties from their shops and houses rather than personally taking part in those. Today is the last day for the filing of nomination papers in the state for state assembly elections. The polling will take place on December 19. 

Meanwhile, there was heavy rush in various markets of the lower Himachal to make purchases of heavy woolens. Woolen garment shops were humming with customers and traders were selling their products like hot cakes. The prices of the woolens this time were almost equal to that of last year, said Ramesh Kumar of Kangra who runs a woolen goods shop. "I'm planning to dispose off my goods on throwaway prices so that nothing is left in stocks for next year as the designs change every year", he told the Pioneer today. 

Those selling dry fruits were also happy with the rains and arrival of cold weather. "The sales of dry fruits is likely to go up and this way I will be able to do the brisk business, said, Santosh Kumar of Hamirpur town. Ground nuts are in great demand", he added.