In response to relentless rainfall battering Himachal Pradesh, authorities have declared a holiday for all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, in Sirmour and Solan districts. Sirmour has witnessed non-stop downpours over the past 24 hours, severely affecting daily life and prompting Sirmour DC Priyanka Verma to issue orders suspending operations at all local schools. Similarly, Solan district has suspended all academic activities, keeping schools and colleges closed in the interest of student safety.
Orange Alert in Solan and Immediate Administrative Orders
According to the official directive issued by Solan DC Manmohan Sharma, the Meteorological Centre in Shimla had issued an orange alert for Solan district on July 10. Invoking the provisions of Section 30 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the local administration mandated that all public and private educational institutions, alongside Anganwadi centers, remain closed on Friday. The DC emphasized that continuous heavy rain has triggered high risks of landslides, flash floods, falling trees, and blocked roads, posing a direct threat to human life. The intense rain has disrupted transportation on rural roads, making travel in hilly terrains highly dangerous for commuting students. While students have been given a holiday, teachers and other school staff are required to report for their regular duties.
Short-Term Weather Alerts Issued for Eight Districts
The Shimla Meteorological Centre issued a fresh weather update at 8:00 AM, warning residents of imminent rain over the coming three to four hours. The alert covers eight districts: Bilaspur, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Sirmour, Solan, and Shimla. According to the advisory, light to moderate rainfall is expected across most locations in these districts. However, Sirmour is likely to witness isolated spells of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, while Solan and Shimla districts are anticipated to receive heavy downpours at one or two places.
Landslides Block Major Highways and Connective Roads
The persistent rainfall has triggered several landslides across the mountainous state, leading to road blockages and property damage. In Shimla's Vikasnagar area, a sudden landslide damaged two parked vehicles. Meanwhile, in Mandi district, a massive landslide occurred on Friday morning near Khotinala, located past Pandoh, completely shutting down the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway. Initially, only light vehicles could navigate the debris while bus services remained entirely suspended. Emergency crews have since managed to clear the highway, allowing larger vehicles to resume transit. Traffic has also been disrupted in Kullu district, where the Gushaini road was blocked due to falling rocks past Dehuri. Similarly, the Sainj-Neoli road remains closed following a major landslide, and the Aut Luhri National Highway 305 was blocked near Khanag after a massive deodar tree fell across the road.
Lahaul-Spiti Farmers Anxious as Rain Imperils Harvests
In the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti, intermittent rainfall over the past few days has led to a sharp drop in temperatures, bringing a sudden chill to the valley. On one hand, this rainfall is highly beneficial for natural grasslands, alpine pastures, and wild vegetation, which are thriving due to the abundant moisture. This has brought some relief to local pastoralists. On the other hand, the rain has caused immense anxiety among farmers cultivating cash crops. In the Lahaul valley, vital crops such as peas and cabbage are fully mature and ready for harvesting and market transport. The excessive soil moisture caused by continuous rain raises the risk of fungal infections and crop diseases, which could degrade the quality of the produce and lead to a significant decline in overall yield. Additionally, the wet weather has halted harvesting operations, threatening farmers with severe financial losses. The weather department has forecast that light to moderate rain will continue to affect certain parts of the district in the coming days.
