Heavy rain wreaks havoc in Himachal Pradesh amid orange alert; several vehicles washed away in Kullu

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh has been witnessing continuous rain and snow for the past two days, causing disruption across several regions.

The weather office has issued an orange warning for heavy to very heavy rain and snow at isolated places in Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, and Chamba districts for Thursday and Friday.


The warning comes amid significant damage in Kullu, where heavy rain has washed away several vehicles.

The region has been experiencing light to moderate snow in the higher reaches, while intermittent rains have been lashing the middle and low hills, making travel difficult.

As per the local meteorological department (MeT), heavy snow is expected in Lahaul and Spiti, with heavy rain and snow in Shimla district over the next two days. Additional alerts have been issued for heavy rains in Una and Hamirpur districts.

In terms of snowfall, Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district has so far received 20cm of snow, while other areas such as Khadrala, Kukumseri, and Hansa saw significant snow accumulation as well.

The snowfall has led to hazardous road conditions, making travel treacherous in these higher-altitude areas.

The rainfall data shows that Sarahan received the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours, with 29.1 mm, followed by Seobagh (22.2 mm) and Manali (19 mm). Other areas, including Bharmour, Jot, Gohar, and Karsog, recorded substantial rainfall, while Shimla, Solan, and Kasauli received light showers of 2 to 5 mm. Meanwhile, the temperature dropped in the night, with Tabo in Lahaul-Spiti district recording a low of minus 4.5°C.

Despite the recent wet spell, the state is facing a significant rainfall deficit. From January 1 to February 27, Himachal Pradesh has received only 70.4 mm of rain, which is 61% less than the normal rainfall of 181.7 mm expected during this period.

(With agency inputs)

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