Heavy and persistent rainfall has prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district, with the Beas River breaching safe levels and inundating nearby areas.
The IMD warned of further intense showers across several districts, cautioning that flash floods, rising river levels, and landslides remain highly probable. Areas under immediate concern include Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi, while light to moderate rainfall has also been forecast for Kullu, Una, Chamba, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti.
"Light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in the districts of Kullu, Una, and Chamba," the weather office noted, adding that isolated spells of very intense rain may follow in mid- and lower-hill areas.
The deluge has already inundated stretches along the Beas and saturated high-altitude slopes, triggering fears of landslides and debris flows, particularly along vulnerable roads and riverbanks.
"Almost all regions in Himachal Pradesh received rainfall during the past 24 hours. The highest rainfall was recorded in Palampur at 76 mm, followed by Banjar at 75 mm. Moderate rainfall of around 55 mm was recorded in Sirmaur. People should stay away from rivers and streams; landslide risk remains high," said Sandeep Kumar Sharma, a senior scientist at the IMD’s Shimla centre.
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Though a brief dip in rainfall activity had been anticipated on June 28, forecasters had already sounded an orange alert for the subsequent days. That prediction came true as monsoon showers intensified again on Sunday and are expected to continue into Monday.
"The spell of heavy rain will resume on June 29. We have issued an orange alert for five districts — Una, Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, and Sirmaur — for heavy to very heavy rainfall," Sharma added.
The Mandi district administration has since urged people to steer clear of the Beas and all other water bodies, while also advising against travel along known landslide-prone stretches. The IMD, in coordination with the State Disaster Management Authority, is issuing frequent updates through SMS and other official channels to keep residents informed of evolving weather conditions.
Public advisories have gone out to tourists as well, especially those in high-risk areas. “People in vulnerable zones must avoid rivers, steep valleys and mountain paths during this spell. The risk of landslides remains significant,” Sharma warned.
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