Monsoon activity has intensified in Himachal Pradesh, with continuous rainfall being reported across several parts of the state. The Meteorological Department has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall in Kangra, Mandi and Hamirpur districts on July 18, and has issued a yellow alert urging people to remain cautious.
The administration has appealed to the local people and the tourists not to travel unnecessarily, as heavy rain can cause waterlogging in the low-lying areas, making roads slippery, affecting visibility and raising the danger of vehicle skidding and traffic disruptions.
There may be light to moderate rain at isolated places in Chamba, Una, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti, while light showers are expected at a few places in the remaining parts.
Massive Landslide Caused Traffic Disruptions
The heavy rains have wreaked havoc in the region, with the entire stretch of the Chuwari-Bharadi road being damaged after a landslide caused it to collapse. According to eyewitnesses, at about 8 am on Saturday, a portion of the hill slid down, with huge quantities of debris and rocks suddenly coming down and damaging the road, which caved in to the ditch.
A vehicle moving in the area got trapped under the landslide due to debris. But the passengers present in the car fortunately escaped.
The passage of traffic on the road was brought to a halt in the wake of the incident, and a huge jam was observed on both ends of the road, inconveniencing commuters.
Heavy Rain Recorded In Kangra And Dharamshala
Monsoon showers lashed the state in the last 24 hours, with the maximum rainfall of 77.4 mm being registered in Kangra. Dharamshala witnessed 65.5 mm of rain, while Palampur recorded 38 mm. Rain was also reported from Paonta Sahib (5.6 mm), Sundernagar (4.1 mm) and Hamirpur (4 mm). Shimla recorded a meagre 0.5 mm of rainfall.
The Meteorological Centre, Shimla, has forecast a cloudy sky with possibility of light rain with decrease in visibility in the capital. Rainfall could persist in some parts of the state in the next few hours.
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Temperature Update
Minimum temperatures have not changed in any major part of Himachal Pradesh. Kukumseri in Lahaul-Spiti recorded the lowest temperature in the state with 12.5 degrees Celsius, while Keylong recorded 15 degrees Celsius, Kufri 14.8 degrees Celsius, and Narkanda 14.2 degrees Celsius.
Paonta Sahib recorded the highest minimum temperature at 27 degrees Celsius, while Bilaspur and Hamirpur recorded 25.5 degrees Celsius and 25.4 degrees Celsius respectively.
People have been requested to take the weather advisory seriously and stay alert while on the road, especially in landslide-prone and hilly areas.