Orange alert issued for heavy rain, hailstorms on April 18-19
MANDI: A powerful storm swept across Himachal Pradesh late Wednesday (April 16, 2025) night, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Three persons were injured in Kangra’s Gaggal area after a tree fell on a car. They were taken to the hospital. Dozens of parked vehicles were also damaged by falling trees in various districts, especially Shimla.
With wind speeds reaching up to 80 km/h, the storm uprooted trees, damaged homes, disrupted traffic and plunged large parts of the state into darkness.
The authorities have issued an orange alert for heavy rain and hailstorms on April 18 and 19, warning of continued inclement weather till April 22 due to an active western disturbance.
Mandi among worst-hit districts
Districts like Shimla, Kangra, Una, Hamirpur, Chamba and Mandi bore the brunt of the storm.
Many areas reported uprooted trees, damaged rooftops and shattered window panes. Power supply remained disrupted for more than 12 hours, significantly affecting normal life in several rural and urban pockets of the district.
Roads were blocked due to fallen trees and restoration work continued well into Thursday afternoon.
Roofs and trees uprooted, tents torn apart
Dozens of homes across the affected districts saw their tin roofs ripped off by violent winds. Tents set up for wedding ceremonies were torn apart in Kangra, Sirmaur, Una and Mandi.
Roads across the region were strewn with debris and key highways like Mandi-Pathankot and Matour-Shimla were partially blocked.
In several areas, especially in Una, Kangra and Mandi, trees fell on power lines, leading to blackouts lasting from late night till the next morning.
The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board deployed emergency teams to restore electricity under challenging conditions.
Damage to crops, apple orchards
Ripe wheat crops in the plains were flattened by the storm and rain. Apple orchards in Shimla, Kullu, Chamba and Mandi suffered damage to their flowering, posing a threat to the upcoming fruit season.
Snowfall in high-altitude areas
Fresh snowfall was recorded in Rohtang Pass, Baralacha, Shinkula and Kunzum Pass.
In lower regions such as Keylong, Pattan and parts of Mandi and Lahaul, continuous rain led to a sudden drop in temperature, adding to the hardship.
The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has forecast continued bad weather due to an active western disturbance.
An orange alert has been issued for heavy rain, thunderstorms and hailstorms in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi and Lahaul-Spiti districts for April 18 and 19.
Munish Sood
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