Shimla: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of an active spell of monsoon rainfall across Himachal Pradesh over the next several days, issuing orange and yellow alerts for multiple districts. Authorities have advised residents and tourists to stay away from rivers, streams, and landslide-prone areas as heavy showers are expected to continue.
For Wednesday, Sirmaur district has been placed under an Orange Alert, with forecasts indicating the possibility of very heavy rainfall. A Yellow Alert has also been issued for Chamba, Kullu, Solan, and Shimla, where moderate to heavy rain is likely during the day.
The weather department has predicted that rainfall activity will intensify further on July 30. Orange Alert warnings have been issued for Chamba, Bilaspur, Kangra, and Sirmaur, while Una, Hamirpur, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, and Shimla remain under a Yellow Alert. Officials have appealed to people in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rain.
According to the latest forecast, monsoon activity is expected to persist until at least August 3. Yellow Alerts will remain in effect across several parts of the state between July 31 and August 3, with another spell of heavy rainfall likely in Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, and Shimla on August 1.
The IMD has cautioned that continuous rainfall could increase the risk of flash floods, landslides, and road blockages, particularly in hilly regions. Residents and visitors have been urged to avoid venturing near overflowing rivers, seasonal streams, and unstable slopes until weather conditions improve.
Despite recent spells of heavy rain, Himachal Pradesh has recorded below-normal monsoon rainfall so far this season. Data from the Meteorological Department shows that the state received 310.3 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 28, against the normal average of 330.9 mm, reflecting an overall deficit of around 6 per cent.
Rainfall distribution, however, has varied significantly across districts. Kinnaur, Shimla, Chamba, Kullu, Solan, Bilaspur, and Una have received normal to above-normal precipitation, while Hamirpur, Kangra, Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, and Sirmaur continue to report rainfall below seasonal averages.
The administration has advised people to monitor official weather updates and follow safety advisories issued by local authorities as the monsoon remains active across the state.
