Shimla soaked in heavy rain; Met department warns of more showers — Farmers, tourists told to stay alert in Himachal
Shimla, June 17: The Queen of Hills woke up to heavy rain Tuesday morning, with the IMD recording 42.7 mm of rainfall in Shimla by 8:30 am.
And that's just the start — the Meteorological Department has issued a fresh alert for more showers across Himachal Pradesh over the next 24 to 48 hours, urging farmers and tourists to stay cautious.
According to the latest bulletin from the Meteorological Centre, Shimla, upper air cyclonic circulations over Punjab and adjoining areas, combined with a Western Disturbance active north of latitude 26°N, are likely to trigger widespread rainfall, especially in central and western parts of the state.
Besides Shimla, significant rainfall was recorded at:
Una – 52 mm
Kasauli – 52 mm
Bilaspur – 38.6 mm
Solan – 13.2 mm
Palampur – 14.2 mm
Manali – 20 mm
Bhuntar – 24.8 mm
Kufri – 18 mm
Seobagh – 18 mm
Sarahan – 25.5 mm
The lowest minimum temperature in the state was recorded at Kukumseri (8.9°C), while Hamirpur sizzled at 38.2°C, the highest maximum temperature, reflecting the wide variation in conditions across the state.
Farmers are advised to:
Avoid spraying pesticides or fertilizers during this period, as expected rainfall may wash them away.
Ensure drainage in fields to prevent waterlogging.
Secure harvested crops stored in the open.
Tourists and trekkers, especially those heading to Kullu-Manali, Lahaul-Spiti, Dalhousie, and higher reaches like Kufri and Sarahan, are urged to check weather forecasts regularly and avoid riverbanks and landslide-prone zones.
While no snowfall has been reported from any station, visibility and road conditions in the upper hills may deteriorate quickly due to moderate to heavy rainfall.
The IMD has categorized today’s rainfall in Shimla, Una, Kasauli, and Bilaspur as moderate, with more showers likely by evening.
Any further escalation in rainfall could push some pockets into the heavy rainfall category (64.5–115.5 mm), which may trigger flash floods or landslides, particularly in Kullu, Chamba, Mandi, and Solan districts.
Stay tuned to official IMD handles on Twitter and Facebook for live updates.
Note to locals and visitors: Don’t take mountain weather lightly — plan your routes carefully and heed all advisory warnings.
