Severe Weather Warnings Issued for Himachal Pradesh Amid Ongoing Rain Crisis
Himachal Pradesh Faces Extreme Weather Conditions
The India Meteorological Department has declared a red alert for exceptionally heavy rainfall in the districts of Kangra, Sirmaur, and Mandi on Sunday, as the region continues to deal with severe weather, including cloudbursts and landslides.
Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, reports indicate that at least 45 individuals have lost their lives due to rain-related incidents, according to data from the State Emergency Operations Centre.
Additionally, 31 individuals remain unaccounted for, and rescue efforts are currently in progress.
Alongside the red alert, the weather agency has also issued warnings for low to moderate flash flood risks in areas including Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur over the next day.
An orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall has also been announced for Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Solan, Shimla, and Kullu districts.
#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh | Three culverts washed away along with a portion of land due to flooding in the drain near Kortang in Chauharghati under Padhar subdivision of Mandi district, says SDM Padhar Surjeet Singh
— News Media (@NewsMedia) July 6, 2025
Details awaited.
(Video source: SDM Padhar) pic.twitter.com/5V4A9g6AiO
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the government is ready to handle any rain-related emergencies.
He mentioned that food supplies have been transported by mules to remote areas in Thunag of Mandi district as part of the relief efforts.
The chief minister also noted that conditions in the Seraj constituency are improving and encouraged residents to offer extra rooms to families displaced by cloudbursts. The state will provide Rs 5,000 monthly to each affected family for accommodation.
Relief Delivered at Village Roaad
— HP-SDRF (@HP_SDRF) July 5, 2025
On 5th July 2025, SDRF Team distributed 3 essential need kits provided by the Distt. Administration, delivered basic medicines to patients, and gathered further requirements from the villagers. #HPSDRF@CMOFFICEHP @SatwantAtwal @arjit_sen pic.twitter.com/oLiQ0sgt6U
In a social media update on Sunday, Sukhu reported that approximately 63 tourists and crew members stranded in a hotel in Mandi district were successfully evacuated through collaborative efforts by the National Disaster Response Force and local authorities.
During this monsoon season, 288 individuals have been reported injured.
Currently, around 240 roads are blocked across the state, with 176 in Mandi district alone, leading to estimated losses of Rs 541.09 crore in public and private infrastructure, as reported.
Sukhu suggested that the actual damage could be closer to Rs 700 crore.
Heavy Rain Alerts Extend to Punjab and Haryana
The weather department has also issued an orange alert for multiple districts in Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh, predicting heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning within the next 24 hours.
In Punjab, the orange alert encompasses Pathankot, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Nawanshahr, Fatehgarh Sahib, SAS Nagar, and Jalandhar, while a yellow alert is in effect for the remaining areas.
In Haryana, orange alerts have been issued for Ambala, Panchkula, and nearby regions, with yellow alerts for other districts.
The IMD has forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall from July 6 to July 9 across northern and eastern Punjab and parts of Haryana and Chandigarh.
Authorities have cautioned about potential flash floods, urban flooding, and landslides in hilly regions, urging residents and farmers to take necessary precautions.
The weather agency has also issued a yellow alert for Delhi, predicting thunderstorms and light rain in the national capital.