Heavy rains batter Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as IMD issues red and orange alerts

Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the north are seeing a lot of rain as the southwest monsoon spreads throughout the Indian subcontinent. For several districts in both states, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange advisories.

On Sunday, the Shimla meteorological centre issued a red alert for heavy rain in districts including Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Una, Kullu, and Chamba. Earlier, the Dehradun meteorological centre forecasted heavy to very heavy rain on June 29 and 30, issuing a red alert for Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar, and Haridwar. The rest of Uttarakhand is under an orange alert.

In Himachal Pradesh, railway services on the Shimla-Kalka line have been halted after overnight rains caused trees and boulders to fall onto the tracks.

The Shimla-Kalka National Highway (NH-5), connecting Shimla and Chandigarh, was damaged by an earthquake near Koti, leading to road damage and traffic jams lasting hours. Police have since cleared the debris and reopened the highway.

In Solan, several roads—including those to Himuda Complex, Mandhala, and Bagguwala—have been closed after flooding washed them away. The Bald River in Baddi surged, flooding nearby homes with water reportedly up to four feet deep.

In Uttarakhand, officials warn that roads might be closed to prevent landslide-related accidents, which will affect travel. Dr. Vikram Singh, director of the IMD Dehradun centre, advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and only go out if essential.

A cloudburst-triggered landslide blocked the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi. Tragically, two laborers working on a hotel construction site along the highway lost their lives, and search operations are underway for others who are missing.

Both states are expected to see continued heavy rains, increasing the risk of landslides, waterlogging, damage to vulnerable structures, traffic delays, and disruption of essential services.

In Himachal Pradesh, flash flood risks remain high in many districts—including Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, and Una—through June 30. The IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy rains in some areas on Monday and predicts a wet spell continuing until July 5.

In Uttarakhand, water levels in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs are expected to rise significantly. Dr. Singh urged residents in low-lying and vulnerable areas to stay alert, especially in the evenings, and be ready to evacuate if needed. Though rainfall may slightly decrease on July 1, heavy showers are still expected on July 1 and 2, with an orange alert in place.

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