Heavy Rainfall Engulfs Shimla: Disruptions in Daily Life

Shimla is facing heavy rainfall, with a yellow rain warning for the next two days. The downpour has disrupted daily life, affecting residents and tourists. Multiple districts, including Solan, Shimla, and Sirmaur, are severely impacted. Authorities urge caution as more rain is forecasted.

The hill resort of Shimla is grappling with heavy rainfall, with the Indian Meteorological Department issuing a yellow rain warning for the next two days. The relentless downpour has significantly disrupted daily life for both residents and visitors. The districts of Solan, Shimla, and Sirmaur are among the hardest hit, and Shimla city remains shrouded in fog.

Kundan Singh, a local resident, shared the community's struggles, stating, "It's been raining continuously. We are facing problems; the heavy downpour has disrupted normal life. Here on Mall Road, there's no work due to the rain. Tourists are also not arriving, and people are having difficulty commuting. We still have a few more days of rain ahead, and we hope it ends soon."

Local workers and vendors are also feeling the brunt. Abdul, another resident, added, "It's been raining since morning, and students had trouble getting to school. Local residents are facing problems, and tourists are not arriving because of the rain, which means there's no work for us. The weather department has forecasted rain for three more days."

Amidst the unrelenting rain, authorities urge residents and tourists to take necessary precautions and stay updated on weather advisories. The State Disaster Management Authority reports that 71 roads, including one national highway, are closed, and 469 electricity supply schemes have been affected across the state.

The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has predicted light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, across Himachal Pradesh. These conditions are expected to cause low visibility, disrupt traffic, and lead to waterlogging in low-lying areas. Specifically for Shimla city, the IMD stated, "Light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms and lightning is most likely to continue with low visibility conditions. It is likely to lead to traffic disruption, water logging in low-lying areas, slippery & wet roads, low visibility, and minor damage to vulnerable structures."

Similar weather conditions are forecasted for other districts, including Kangra, Chamba, Hamirpur, Mandi, Bilaspur, Solan, and Sirmaur, with isolated intense rainfall expected. Over the past 24 hours, Shimla recorded a maximum temperature of 24.2 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 16.2 degrees Celsius, with 4 mm of rainfall. The IMD advises residents to remain vigilant and take precautions due to potential weather disruptions.

(With inputs from agencies.)