The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued a heavy rain alert for the next seven days. An orange alert is in place for July 1 and 2, while a yellow alert has been issued for July 3 to 7.
Currently, Shimla is experiencing cloudy weather with occasional sunshine. Over the past 24 hours, several locations, including Paonta Sahib, Bhoranj and Kangra, received varying amounts of rainfall.
The minimum temperatures recorded across key locations in Himachal include Shimla at 17.5°C, Sundernagar at 22.4°C, Bhuntar at 21.7°C, Kalpa at 21.9°C, Una at 25°C and Nahan at 23.9°C. Other notable temperatures include Palampur at 20.5°C, Solan at 21.2°C, Manali at 18.2°C and Kangra at 25°C.
In response to the monsoon, the Public Works Department (PWD) has cancelled holidays for its employees, who will now be allowed leave only in special circumstances.
The government has instructed the chief engineers of the four PWD zones to conduct field visits and submit reports on the condition of roads and bridges to the state government.
Weekly meetings will be held by the Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh to address damages caused by the monsoon. Currently, 13,000 employees are working in the field, with more to be deployed if needed.
To ensure road accessibility during the upcoming apple season, the PWD has deployed 500 machines to restore traffic flow. Engineers and operators have been instructed to remain on-site at all times. Additionally, separate teams will monitor river channels in affected areas to report water recovery.
Last year’s natural calamities resulted in significant financial losses for the Himachal Pradesh government. This year, proactive measures are being taken to mitigate similar impacts and ensure the safety and functionality of infrastructure across the state.
