After heavy rains were reported in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla and surrounding areas on Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared an 'Orange Alert' for seven districts for the next two days. According to the MeT department, thunderstorms accompanied by "very heavy rain" may hit isolated places in these seven districts.
Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Solan are the districts for which an 'Orange Alert' has been sounded on Saturday and Sunday.
On July 1 and 2 (Monday and Tuesday), Himachal may witness heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, the IMD said. A Yellow Alert has been issued for these days. A wet spell is predicted till July 4, Thursday, afterward.
Delayed by five days, the southwest monsoon had hit several parts of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, news agency PTI reported.
Earlier on Friday, debris from drains littered the roads at several places in Shimla and three vehicles parked near a drain were buried in the muck on the Malyana Surala road. No casualty was reported, officials said.
In another incident, four roads -- two in Kangra and one each in Kinnaur and Kullu districts -- have been blocked for vehicular traffic following rains as per the state emergency operation centre.
State capital Shimla and surrounding areas received heavy rains and Jubbarhatti in the suburbs received 136 mm of rain on Thursday evening while Shimla received 84 mm of rain.
Gohar received 42 mm of rain, Mashobra 38 mm, Slapper 34.6 mm, Kufri and Shilaroo 24.2 mm, Sarahan and Berthin 22 mm each, Ghagas 18.8 mm, Karsog 18.2 mm, Kahu 16 mm and Pandoh 12 mm as per the data released by the MeT.
The MeT has cautioned of damage to plantation, horticulture and standing crops, partial damage to vulnerable structures, minor damage to kutcha houses and huts due to strong winds and rain, disruption in traffic and water logging in low-lying areas.
