Monsoon to Stay Active in Himachal; IMD Issues Rain Alerts, Advises Public to Avoid Rivers and Landslide-Prone Areas

Shimla (Rajeev Sharma): Himachal Pradesh is expected to witness another spell of widespread monsoon activity over the coming days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy rainfall across several districts. Orange and Yellow alerts have been issued, while residents and tourists have been advised to remain cautious as the risk of flash floods and landslides persists.
According to the weather department, Sirmaur district will remain under an Orange Alert on Wednesday due to the possibility of very heavy rainfall. A Yellow Alert has also been sounded for Chamba, Kullu, Solan, and Shimla, where moderate to heavy showers are likely.
The forecast indicates that rainfall will intensify on July 30, with Chamba, Bilaspur, Kangra, and Sirmaur expected to receive heavy to very heavy rain. Yellow Alerts have also been issued for Una, Hamirpur, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, and Shimla, prompting authorities to advise people in vulnerable areas to stay alert.
The IMD has predicted that wet weather conditions are likely to continue across the state until August 3. Yellow Alerts will remain in place in several districts between July 31 and August 3, while another spell of heavy rain is expected in Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, and Shimla on August 1.
In view of the forecast, officials have urged the public to avoid rivers, seasonal streams, waterfalls, and landslide-prone stretches, as persistent rainfall could trigger flash floods, slope failures, and road blockages. Tourists have also been advised to exercise caution while travelling through hilly regions.
Despite recent downpours, Himachal has so far recorded a 6 per cent deficit in seasonal rainfall. Meteorological data shows that between June 1 and July 28, the state received 310.3 mm of rainfall against the normal average of 330.9 mm.
Rainfall distribution has varied across districts. Kinnaur, Shimla, Chamba, Kullu, Solan, Bilaspur, and Una have recorded normal to surplus rainfall, whereas Hamirpur, Kangra, Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, and Sirmaur continue to report below-average precipitation.
Authorities have appealed to residents to stay updated with official weather bulletins, avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall, and follow advisories issued by the local administration as the monsoon remains active across Himachal Pradesh.