IMD Warns of Very Heavy Rains in Himachal Till July 23; Farmers, Tourists Asked to Stay Alert
HimbuMail Correspondent | Shimla | July 21, 2025
Shimla: The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Shimla, has issued a red alert for very heavy rainfall over several parts of Himachal Pradesh from the night of July 20 till the evening of July 23, with peak intensity expected on July 21 and 22.
In a series of real-time warnings on Monday, the IMD predicted extremely heavy showers over districts like Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi during the next three hours.
Another alert followed soon after, warning of heavy rainfall in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, and Una districts.
“We are closely monitoring the rainfall situation and urge farmers, tourists, and local residents to avoid travel and remain cautious around rivers, landslide-prone zones, and unstable slopes,” an official from the IMD Shimla said.
Farmers Advised to Take Precautions
Agriculture and horticulture activities are likely to be disrupted. The Met office has advised orchardists and farmers to cover vulnerable crops and avoid working on steep fields during high-intensity rain periods.
Travel Plans? Think Again
Tourists heading to popular hill destinations have been strongly advised to postpone travel, especially to higher reaches. Flash floods, road blockages, and landslides remain high risks during this period.
The alert was generated under the CAP-SACHET system and is valid till Monday afternoon, with continuous monitoring through the week.
Torrential rains in Himachal Pradesh over the past 24 hours have thrown public infrastructure into chaos, with 468 roads blocked, 1,199 distribution transformers (DTRs) disrupted, and 676 water supply schemes (WSS) affected across the state, according to a 10:00 AM status report issued by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) on Mon
The disruptions, triggered by continued heavy downpours and landslides, have impacted several key districts — notably Mandi (310 roads blocked), Chamba (39), Kullu (33), and Sirmaur (52). Three national highways (NH-21, NH-154, and NH-305) have also been affected, severely hitting transport and relief operations.
Power and Water Services Hit Hard
Mandi reported the highest number of transformer disruptions at 390, followed by Kangra (595) and Solan (259).
Water supply systems suffered significantly, with 676 schemes affected — including 37 in Chamba, 40 in Mandi, and 25 in Una.
In Kullu district, essential irrigation and sewerage schemes were temporarily restored with emergency repairs. Meanwhile, a bridge on the Badsala road in Una remains out of service since early July and will stay closed until further notice, according to PWD officials.
District-Wise Snapshot:
Mandi: Worst hit with 310 roads blocked, 390 transformers down, and 40 WSS hit
Kangra: 9 roads blocked, 595 DTRs disrupted
Chamba: 39 roads blocked, 214 transformers disrupted
Solan: 15 roads blocked, 259 DTRs hit
Sirmaur: 52 roads blocked, 160 transformers affected
Advisory for Residents & Commuters:
Authorities have advised residents to avoid non-essential travel in affected areas and have urged commuters to follow alternate routes wherever bridges or key roads remain closed. Emergency services and PWD teams are working round-the-clock to restore access and utilities.
Officials urged people to download the ‘SACHET’ mobile app from the Play Store or App Store for real-time weather alerts.
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