Shimla, July 17: With the apple harvest season gathering pace and thousands of tourists, pilgrims and trekkers heading to Himachal Pradesh's high-altitude destinations, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a four-day district-wise heavy rainfall warning from July 18 to July 21, cautioning people against travelling through landslide- and flash flood-prone areas.
The warning assumes significance as fruit growers have begun harvesting apples and other horticultural produce, while the annual pilgrimage season to Manimahesh, Kinner Kailash, Shrikhand Mahadev, Churdhar and Shikari Devi is in full swing.
Adventure trekkers heading towards Pin-Parvati Pass, Chandratal, Chanshal Pass, Chandrakhani Pass, Mantalai and other Himalayan trails have also been advised to exercise extreme caution.
Date-wise IMD Forecast
July 18 (Saturday):
Moderate to heavy rain likely at isolated places in Kangra and Mandi districts.
July 19 (Sunday):
Heavy to very heavy rain: Kangra, Shimla and Mandi
Heavy rain: Hamirpur, Chamba and Sirmaur
Moderate to heavy rain: Una, Bilaspur, Kullu, Solan and Lahaul-Spiti.
July 20 (Monday):
Heavy to very heavy rain: Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi
Heavy rain: Hamirpur and Shimla
Moderate to heavy rain: Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, Solan, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti.
July 21 (Tuesday):
Heavy to very heavy rain: Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur and Shimla
Heavy rain: Chamba, Hamirpur and Solan
Moderate to heavy rain: Una, Bilaspur, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti.
The IMD has warned that the spell could trigger localized landslides, mudslides, flash floods, rising water levels in rivers and streams, waterlogging, traffic disruptions, slippery roads and damage to horticulture and agriculture.
HPSDMA has urged residents, apple growers, tourists, pilgrims and trekkers to avoid landslide-prone stretches, maintain a safe distance from rivers and nallahs, follow traffic advisories and keep a close watch on official weather updates before travelling to high-altitude pilgrimage and trekking destinations.
