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Key Points

The IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh over the next three days. Districts like Kangra and Shimla are expected to face severe downpours, with rivers swelling dangerously. Authorities have warned residents to avoid rivers and landslide-prone areas. The state has already seen 32% above-normal rainfall this August.

Key Points: IMD Issues Orange Alert for Heavy Rain in Himachal Pradesh

  • Orange alert for Bilaspur, Kangra, and Mandi districts
  • 180mm rainfall recorded in Kangra
  • Visibility low in Shimla and Solan
  • 32% above-normal August rainfall
2 min read

Orange alert for heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh for next three days; IMD warns

IMD warns of heavy to very heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh for next three days, with districts like Shimla, Kangra, and Mandi at high risk.

"The monsoon has remained active, and water levels in rivers and streams have risen significantly. – Sandeep Kumar Sharma, IMD Scientist"

Shimla, August 12

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has once again issued an orange alert for Himachal Pradesh, forecasting heavy to very heavy rain over the next three days, from Tuesday to the late hours of Thursday.

According to the latest IMD inputs, orange alert conditions are in effect for Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Kangra, and Mandi districts on Tuesday, while on Wednesday, the warning will apply to Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur districts. On Tuesday, yellow alerts for heavy rainfall have also been issued for Shimla and Solan districts.

Senior IMD Scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma, speaking to ANI, said that rain and weather activities will continue in the region for the next three days.

"The monsoon has remained active, and water levels in rivers and streams have risen significantly. Over the next three days, an advisory has been issued asking people not to venture near local streams or major rivers. Visibility conditions in Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur districts will remain very low," he said.

Sharma said that during the past 24 hours, light to moderate rain was recorded across the state, with isolated places in Kangra, Mandi, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur districts experiencing heavy downpours.

"Kangra district recorded the highest rainfall at 180 mm, while Guler in Kangra registered 161 mm," he noted. "A few places in Hamirpur also received heavy rain," he added.

The IMD forecast indicates rain will continue across the state from August 12 to August 15, with particularly intense rainfall expected from the late hours of Wednesday to the night of Thursday.

Yellow alerts will remain in place for Mandi, Bilaspur, Shimla, and Sirmaur on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, rainfall will be limited to isolated places, followed by dry conditions on Saturday and Sunday. However, Sharma warned that weather activity is likely to pick up again from Monday.

The rainfall statistics for August so far show 32% above-normal precipitation for the state overall. Notably, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, and Shimla districts have recorded around 80% more rain than the seasonal average, while Lahaul-Spiti has received below-normal rainfall.

Since the start of the monsoon season, the state has recorded 13% above-normal rainfall, with Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti being the exceptions, recording less than the seasonal norm.

The IMD has urged residents to remain vigilant during this period, avoid travelling near landslide-prone areas, and stay away from swollen rivers and streams.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who visited Himachal last month, I'm heartbroken to see this. The mountains are so fragile. Climate change is hitting hard - we need better infrastructure planning for extreme weather.
P
Priya S
Why are we always reactive rather than proactive? IMD warnings come but local administration wakes up only after damage is done. Tourists should be stopped from going to risky areas immediately.
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Aman W
My heart goes out to the farmers in these districts. Excess rain after drought-like conditions will ruin their crops completely. Government should announce compensation in advance.
K
Kavya N
The data shows 80% more rain than average in some areas! This isn't normal monsoon anymore. We need long-term solutions - better drainage, landslide prevention, and climate-resilient crops.
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Michael C
Tourists planning trips to Himachal should reconsider. It's not worth risking lives for vacation photos. The mountains will still be there next season - stay safe and postpone your plans.
D
Divya L
While IMD warnings are helpful, they need to reach every villager through local radio and community networks. Many remote areas don't have internet access to check alerts regularly.

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