Cold starts gripping state after snow in high hills
SHIMLA: The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain across several parts of Himachal Pradesh on September 19, signalling potential risks for residents and travellers in the region.
It has been raining heavily in Kinnaur since Thursday morning and the administration has issued an advisory. A cold wave has started gripping the state after snow in the high hills.
Similarly, inclement weather is prevailing in other areas of the state. A landslide has occurred on the National Highway near Nathpa in Kinnaur and the road is closed.
Despite the state experiencing 18 per cent less rainfall than normal this monsoon season, certain areas continue to face heavy downpour. The highest rainfall in the last 24 hours was recorded at Jubberhatti (46 mm) and Kasauli (40 mm).
A Meteorological Centre official said, “Light rainfall has been recorded in several districts, including Solan, Sirmaur, Mandi, Bilaspur, Shimla and Kangra over the last 24 hours, with Jubberhatti and Kasauli receiving the heaviest rain.”
A gradual decline in rainfall is expected after September 20, with light showers forecast for the central regions until September 24. The monsoon season is likely to withdraw from the state after this period.
Monsoon rains persist across many regions, with little hope of immediate relief. While rainfall has been below normal overall, September has witnessed a surge in rain intensity. The Meteorological Centre-Shimla has issued a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms across the plains and central areas, including Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Shimla, Solan, Mandi and Kangra, for September 18 and 19. Thunderstorms and lightning are also expected.
In the capital, Shimla, intermittent light rain and cloudy skies have dominated the weather over the past few days. The overall monsoon season has seen uneven rainfall distribution, with Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Una and Hamirpur recording less-than-normal rain.
With the orange alert in place, residents and tourists are advised to take precautions and stay updated with weather forecasts as heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to pose risks in several regions.
