Monsoon has turned aggressive across both Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, with the India Meteorological Department warning of an unrelenting spell of rain through the coming week. In Haryana, the weather office has forecast intermittent rain until July 12, including heavy spells in several pockets, while in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh an orange alert is in force across districts stretching from Kangra to Sirmaur, signalling a tense couple of days ahead.
Haryana's week-long wet spell, day by day
A yellow alert for heavy rain has already been issued for July 7, meaning the week opens with a wet start. The heaviest spells are expected between July 7 and July 9. On July 8, intermittent rain will continue to lash Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Karnal, Kurukshetra and the surrounding areas, disrupting normal life in those districts. By July 9, most districts across the state will remain overcast, with thunderstorms accompanying rain in many places and gusty winds adding to the trouble in a few pockets. The spell will persist through July 10, when waterlogging in low-lying areas is likely to create problems for commuters. Rain intensity is expected to ease somewhat on July 11, though light showers with thunder will continue. The weather will turn again on July 12, with monsoon activity picking up pace once more. On July 13, several districts will still see rain, while areas that stay dry will have to contend with high humidity instead.
Orange alert in Himachal's hill districts, when will the rain ease
Himachal Pradesh is staring at an entire week of continuous rain. Shobhit Katiyar, director of the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, said the monsoon remains active across the state and intermittent rain will continue in most areas over the next 5 to 7 days. Heavy rainfall has already been recorded in recent days in Kangra, Una and the surrounding regions. Keeping that in mind, the weather department has issued an orange alert for the next two days for Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts, citing a strong likelihood of heavy rain in these areas.
Katiyar also said monsoon activity is likely to pick up pace again around July 11. According to the weather department, the monsoon will remain fairly active in the mid-hill districts of Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur until July 22, while the impact of rain in the lower and plain areas is expected to be stronger until July 16. From July 23 onward, monsoon activity is expected to ease to some extent.
The risks that come with heavy rain, and what residents should watch out for
Continuous heavy rain in hilly terrain raises the risk of landslides, mudslides and a sudden rise in the water level of rivers and streams, all of which can force road closures in several stretches. Reduced visibility during heavy rain also makes travel risky, while standing crops in agriculture and horticulture face the threat of damage. Authorities have advised people to follow the advisories issued by the weather department, the state government and district administrations, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy spells, and stay away from rivers, streams and areas considered sensitive to landslides or flash floods.
Three years of costly monsoon damage in Himachal Pradesh
Every time the monsoon turns active in Himachal Pradesh, the risk of disaster rises alongside it. The numbers from the past three years show just how heavy a toll the season takes on the hill state. The devastating floods and landslides of 2023 killed around 509 people and caused economic losses of nearly Rs 12,000 crore. The impact was comparatively lower in 2024, but rain-related incidents still claimed close to 174 lives. In 2025, record rainfall, cloudbursts and landslides once again caused extensive destruction, killing around 454 people. This year has offered little relief either, with more than a dozen deaths recorded across the state since June 30, including 7 deaths in Solan district alone, the highest of any district. The state has suffered losses of around Rs 15 crore so far this year. The state government maintains that, having learnt from the disasters of the last three years, it has put large-scale preparations in place this time to deal with the monsoon's fallout.
