The wait for the monsoon in Himachal Pradesh is set to stretch a little longer this year. With the monsoon's pace slowing down across other parts of the country, the hill state is feeling the knock-on effect directly. As per the original schedule, the monsoon was to reach some parts of the state on 20 June and the rainy season was to cover the entire state by 25 June, but those dates have now been pushed back. Even so, the pre-monsoon showers have already begun soaking the hills. Amb in Una district too saw a spell of heavy rain.
On Wednesday, Shimla, Kinnaur and Manali were lashed by intense rain. The hardest blow fell on the Nichar block of Kinnaur, where the Kachrang nala swelled dangerously after a night of torrential downpour.
Water Rose Suddenly at 3 am
Around 3 am, the water level in the Kachrang nala shot up rapidly and people living nearby were gripped by panic. It is believed that a cloudburst over the upper hills triggered the sudden surge. The fast-moving floodwater and the debris it dragged along completely wrecked the area's drinking water network.
The main drinking water lines of the Jal Shakti department snapped, and a water tank was partially damaged. On top of that, the road connecting the area and a footbridge were swept away by the water, cutting off villagers from the outside.
Relief: Flood Struck at Night, No Lives Lost
As soon as word of the incident spread, teams from the Jal Shakti department and the local administration reached the spot in the morning. It was fortunate that the flood came during the night, and there are no reports of any casualties. The administration has launched restoration work on a war footing in the affected area, so that the blocked routes can be reopened and the drinking water supply can be restored as quickly as possible.
Weather for the Next Five Days
According to the Shimla weather office, Himachal could see rain at isolated places over the next five days, though no alert has been issued for now. Overnight, rain was recorded at some spots in Shimla, Kinnaur and Chamba. Showers also began in Shimla around 11 am on Wednesday.
Scant Rain Threatens Paddy Crop
June this time has seen extremely little rain, with rainfall running roughly 43 percent below normal. The biggest impact of this is expected on paddy cultivation. The weather office says that for the monsoon to advance, a low-pressure area needs to form over the Bay of Bengal, which did not develop in the early stage. The 'Somalia jet stream' winds coming in from the Indian Ocean also appeared weak. The system has now turned slightly active, which is why rain is being anticipated. For now, the monsoon has not entered North India.
