Orange Alert for Heavy Rainfall in Himachal Pradesh from July 5–7; Administration on High Alert

Shimla, July 2: Monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc in Himachal Pradesh, and the situation is likely to worsen in the coming days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall across several parts of the state from July 5 to July 7. A Yellow Alert has been issued for July 2 to 4, and the weather is expected to remain unstable across the state until July 8. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious.

On Wednesday, intermittent rain continued across Shimla and most other districts. In the last 24 hours, several areas recorded significant rainfall: Kasauli (Solan) received the highest at 55 mm, followed by Baghi (54 mm), Dharampur (38 mm), Mandi (36 mm), Sarahan (32 mm), and Solan town (28 mm).

The continuous downpour has led to a surge in landslides, road blockages, and waterlogging. According to data from the State Emergency Operations Centre, 51 people have lost their lives and 103 have been injured in rain-related incidents between June 20 and July 1. During this period, 55 houses, 9 shops, and 45 cattle sheds have been damaged. The estimated loss so far stands at over ₹283 crore.

Mandi district remains among the worst-hit regions. Cloudburst incidents late Monday night caused severe disruption. Deputy Commissioner Apoorva Devgan confirmed that 10 people have died, and 34 are reported missing in the district. Search and rescue operations are underway in Thunag, Gohar, Karsog, Dhar Jarol, and Pandav Shila. So far, 370 people have been safely evacuated.

The disaster has left 24 houses, 12 cattle sheds, and one bridge damaged in Mandi alone. Additionally, 30 livestock have perished. NDRF, SDRF, and local teams are actively engaged in rescue and relief efforts. However, severely damaged roads in Thunag subdivision are posing a challenge to aid delivery. The district administration has requested air support from the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force to transport food supplies, medicines, and other essentials to affected areas.