The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow Alert for heavy rainfall in several parts of Himachal Pradesh today, warning residents and authorities to remain vigilant as monsoon activity intensifies across the region. Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur districts are expected to receive heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning throughout the day.
The warning extends into the coming days, with forecasts indicating the likelihood of continued heavy rainfall on July 13 and 14 as well. The IMD stated that heavy rain is expected at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, with thunderstorms and lightning likely to continue over the western Himalayan region during the next seven days.
“Heavy rain is expected at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, with thunderstorms and lightning likely to continue over the western Himalayan region during the next seven days,” the IMD stated in its official press release.
In the past 24 hours, several locations in Himachal Pradesh have already recorded significant precipitation, with Pandoh receiving 50 mm, Bilaspur Sadar 40 mm, and Mandi and Gohar each recording 40 mm. These figures underline the seriousness of the current monsoon spell.
Road closures and disruptions
Vehicular movement remained severely affected in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, with 249 roads closed due to heavy rains, including 207 in the landslide-hit Mandi district, officials said. The Mandi to Dharampur stretch via Kotli on National Highway 3 (Atari-Leh) has been shut for heavy vehicles after intense rainfall.
Meanwhile, the Mandi-Kullu section of the Chandigarh-Manali highway was blocked for nearly 10 hours after a landslide struck Kainchi Mor near the Pandoh dam late Friday night. Debris and falling stones from the hillside forced authorities to halt traffic, causing major inconvenience to commuters. Vehicles were diverted via the Katola-Kamand route, and one-way traffic resumed after a 10-hour clearance operation.
Since the monsoon hit Himachal on June 20, the state has recorded damages worth Rs 751 crore. The rains have also disrupted 463 power transformers and 781 water supply schemes, according to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC).
Risks of flooding and landslides
The IMD has highlighted the risk of localised flooding, waterlogging in low-lying areas, traffic disruptions, and minor landslides in vulnerable zones. The risk of flash floods is low to moderate in Shimla and Sirmaur districts over the next 24 hours, but surface runoff and inundation are possible in fully saturated soils and low-lying areas.
Residents are urged to check for traffic congestion before traveling and to follow any advisories issued by local authorities. Authorities have advised the public to remain cautious, especially in hilly and landslide-prone areas, and to stay updated with the latest weather bulletins.
Monitoring and preparedness
The IMD will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary. Himachal Pradesh is bracing for another spell of intense monsoon rain, with preparedness measures being ramped up across the affected districts.
With inputs from PTI