Dharamshala, April 9 -- The wet spell continued in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, with widespread rain and snowfall leading to a winter-like chill even in April. While the higher reaches received fresh snowfall, rainfall was recorded across lower parts of the state. Snowfall was logged in parts of Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Kinnaur, Shimla, Chamba and Mandi districts. In Shimla, several places, including Narkanda, Kotkhai, Chaupal and Kufri, reported snowfall. Snowfall also continued since morning in the Atal Tunnel area in Rohtang, and Sissu and Koksar in Lahaul-Spiti. Consequently, vehicular movement has been halted beyond Solang Valley. The rain and snowfall resulted in marked fall in the day temperatures in the state during the last 24 hours, with the average maximum temperature on Wednesday settling below normal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more showers in parts of the state in the coming days, with dry weather expected to return next week. IMD officials said light to moderate rain and snowfall can be expected in few places on April 9, while light precipitation will continue at isolated places on April 10 and 11. The continued rain spells may cause the maximum temperatures to fall by 6 to 8 degrees during the next 24 hours. However, no significant change is expected in the minimum temperatures. A major accident was averted on Wednesday morning on the Kugti-Harsar-Bharmour road in Chamba district after a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus narrowly escaped plunging into a gorge when it was hit by falling debris. The incident occurred at Harsar when heavy stones suddenly rolled down from the hillside onto a bus travelling from Kugti to Chamba. The impact pushed the vehicle off balance, with one of its front wheels slipping off the road. Over a dozen passengers on board panicked following the impact. A large retaining wall (danga) near Jagar Nullah on the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway at Pandoh in Mandi district collapsed on Wednesday, damaging around a 30-metre stretch of the road. As a precautionary measure, one lane of the highway has been closed to vehicular traffic. After the retaining wall collapsed, some families living in the lower area below the highway face danger....