Himachal weather alert: Shimla, Sirmaur, Chamba put on high alert for potential flooding and flash floods

Shimla, August 19: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has put Shimla, Sirmaur and Chamba in Himachal Pradesh on high alert for potential flooding and flash floods, as the South West Monsoon remains a significant concern.

As per the weather department, Shimla, Sirmaur and Chamba face moderate to high risk of flash floods in numerous watersheds and nearby regions

As per a bulletin issued by the IMD, continuous rainfall expected in the next 24 hours could lead to surface runoff, potentially causing waterlogging in fully saturated watersheds and areas with lower elevation.

The official alert was issued at 12 noon on Saturday and is set to be effective from 1 pm onward. The weather forecast for the next two days indicates that six districts—Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Bilaspur, and Solan—have been put under orange alert, indicating increased vigilance. The other districts, excluding Kinnaur, are under a yellow alert.

The six districts categorised under the orange alert could witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, which might result in notable difficulties. The districts falling under the yellow alert category may witness moderate to heavy rainfall.

Both authorities and residents have been urged to maintain vigilance and implement essential precautions to safeguard lives and property.