Fresh spells of rain disrupt normal life across Himachal Pradesh; yellow alert issued for next five days
Shimla, July 10
Several parts of Himachal Pradesh, including Shimla, received fresh spells of rain during the last 24 hours, affecting normal life across the State. Fortunately, no loss of life or property has been reported so far.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), by late Thursday evening, 75 roads were closed, 29 electricity distribution transformers (DTRs) were affected, and five water supply schemes were disrupted due to the rain.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in Shimla and Sirmaur on Friday, while moderate to heavy rain is likely in Solan. Moderate rainfall has been predicted for Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, Hamirpur and Chamba, light to moderate rain for Kangra, Una and Bilaspur, and light rain in Lahaul-Spiti.
IMD has also issued a yellow weather warning for several districts of Himachal Pradesh, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall, gusty winds and localised flash flood risks over the next five days.
It further predicted gusty winds of 30-40 kmph over high-altitude regions, including Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, until July 15, while maximum temperatures across the state are expected to rise gradually by 2-4 degrees Celsius over the coming days.
For Shimla city, the IMD has said light to moderate rain with a few intense spells is very likely to continue for the next few hours, after which the rainfall is expected to gradually decrease.
Meanwhile, the tourists continue to flock to Shimla, enjoying the capital city's cool weather, mist-covered hills, lush green valleys and cloud-filled landscapes following recent showers.
The post-rain scenery has transformed Shimla into a major attraction for visitors arriving from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and several other parts of the country. Despite the onset of the lean tourism season, tourist footfall remains significant, with visitors saying they feel safe while exploring the hill station.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some relief from the heat in Delhi! But seriously, the state government should have better drainage and disaster preparedness - these yellow alerts should come with action, not just warnings. Tourist footfall is good for economy but risky if landslides happen.
Born and raised in Shimla - rains are part of our identity! 🌿 But authorities need to focus on basic infra: transformers failing, water supply disrupted, roads blocked... Ye sab har saal hota hai. Tourists enjoy the mist, we locals pay the price.
Good to see tourists still coming despite rains. But 2-4 degree temperature rise prediction is worrying - climate change is real, yaar. Hope IMD warnings are taken seriously by tourists and locals alike. Stay safe, Himachal! 🙏
As a tourism operator in Manali, I can tell you - rains are a double-edged sword. Beautiful landscapes attract visitors, but infrastructure can't handle the load. Need permanent solutions to road closures and power cuts, not just annual repairs. Yellow alert is good, but execution matters more!
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