Heavy rains in Shimla triggered a landslide that buried several vehicles, necessitating ongoing rescue operations to safely recover them. The Southwest monsoon, delayed by five days, has now advanced over Himachal Pradesh, bringing significant rainfall to the state.
According to the meteorological office, the monsoon was expected to arrive by June 22 but has only now covered several parts of the state. Historical data shows varying arrival dates for the monsoon, with the earliest recorded on June 9, 2000, and the latest on July 5, 2010. In recent years, the monsoon has arrived on June 24, 2023, June 29, 2022, June 13, 2021, June 24, 2020, and July 2, 2019.
From June 1 to June 26, Himachal Pradesh received 39.5mm of rain, significantly below the normal 84.3mm, resulting in a 53% deficit. All 12 districts in the state have experienced deficient rainfall so far.
The MeT department issued a "yellow" warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms with lightning for the next four days, from June 28 to July 1, for 10 out of 12 districts, excluding the tribal districts of Kinnaur Lahaul, and Spiti. Previously, an "orange" warning was issued for June 28 and 29, predicting heavy rain, thunderstorms with lightning, and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) in several isolated places.
The department also cautioned of potential damage to plantations, horticulture, and standing crops, partial damage to vulnerable structures, minor damage to kutcha houses and huts, traffic disruption, and waterlogging in low-lying areas due to the strong winds and rain.
