Orange alert issued for Shimla Solan and Sirmaur amid heavy rainfall

Shimla: As the Southwest Monsoon covers the entire hill state, the Meteorological Centre in Shimla has upgraded its weather warning to an 'Orange Alert' for several districts, including Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur.

Forecasters predict isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours as a fresh western disturbance interacts with active monsoon currents across northwest India.  The active monsoon spell has drastically affected normal life in mid-hill and lower-hill regions, causing severe visibility drops and waterlogging in low-lying areas.

The administration has sounded a high alert for mountainous zones, warning locals and travelers about heightened risks of flash floods, localized landslides, and mudslides along major transport corridors.  "Monsoon currents are highly active across the state.

The intensity will remain critical in Shimla, Solan, and neighboring zones, where continuous downpours could drastically escalate the risk of flash floods and block connectivity,"

a senior Met official confirmed.  Several local rivulets and seasonal streams are swelling rapidly due to the persistent precipitation. Tourism and district authorities have issued strict directives to keep away from riverbeds and landslide-prone hill slopes. Emergency response teams, including public works and disaster response personnel, have been deployed at strategic bottlenecks to clear debris and maintain link-road operations as slippery road conditions continue to disrupt vehicular movement.