Himachal weather: Heavy rain, snowfall trigger landslides; temperatures plunged to bone-chilling levels in Shimla
Himachal weather: Shimla and the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh are reeling under the effects of heavy rainfall and snowfall over the past 24 hours. The inclement weather has triggered landslides, disrupted daily life, and plunged temperatures to bone-chilling levels.
The continuous downpour in Shimla has melted snow in several areas, intensifying the cold and leaving locals struggling to cope. For daily wage workers, the situation is particularly dire as they battle the freezing conditions to maintain essential services.
Shailesh Khan, a local worker delivering gas cylinders, shared his struggles: “The weather has been extremely poor for the past two days. Delivering cylinders in this rain and cold is daunting. There are no facilities to protect us from the dropping temperatures. We have to work all day, and the cold is unbearable.”
Pradeep, another worker with years of experience in Shimla, echoed these sentiments: “Ours is an emergency service, so we have to work no matter the weather. Since yesterday, the heavy rain has made conditions harsh. Our hands go numb, and the cold is overwhelming, but we endure it to ensure people receive essential supplies.”
The harsh weather is also taking a toll on the general public. Durganand, a long-time Shimla resident, described the hardships locals are facing. “This weather has disrupted everything. It’s tough even to light a fire to stay warm. Workers collect scattered wood to start fires and warm themselves before resuming their tasks. The transportation system has also been affected in some areas, making commuting difficult.”
Durganand urged residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. “The cold is unbearable. Those who don’t need to go out should stay home to avoid exposure,” he advised.
The ongoing extreme weather has caused temperatures to plummet across the region. Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of 1.2°C, while Lahaul-Spiti’s valleys experienced -7.6°C, the lowest temperature in the region. Other significant lows included Keylong at -4.3°C, Kalpa in Kinnaur at -2.5°C, and Rekong Peo at -0.7°C.
In Shimla district, Narkanda registered 0.1°C, Kufri recorded 1.4°C, Dalhousie 1.7°C, and Manali 0.2°C. Hukum Siri saw temperatures drop to -1.8°C. The Meteorological Department has predicted cold wave conditions to persist in the plains of Himachal Pradesh over the next two days.
- ANI
