Shimla, July 18: It has been raining in Himachal’s capital Shimla since 4 am. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued a fresh bulletin and forecast rain in Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Mandi, Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti districts till 12 noon. Light rain may occur in other districts as well.
Flash flood warning has also been issued in Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur. Meanwhile, the Lahaul Spiti administration has banned bike rides on the Manali-Leh highway. Bike movement has been temporarily suspended till further orders after road damage following rain in Tanglang, Leh.
There is a forecast of heavy rain again in the state after 3 days. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert in Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur districts between 21 and 23 July. The weather is expected to be clear or lightly cloudy in most parts tomorrow.
This week rainfall is 35 percent less than normal
This monsoon season has seen 12 percent more rain than normal. But in the month of July, the rainfall has been 5 percent less than normal. Between 1st and 17th July, the normal rainfall is 129 mm, but this time, 122.4 mm of rain has fallen. This week, i.e. between 10th and 17th July, the rainfall has been 35 percent less than normal. During this period, the normal rainfall is 61.2 mm. But this time, only 40 mm of rain has fallen.
110 people have lost their lives
110 people have lost their lives in this monsoon season (20 June to 17 July) in the state. Out of these, 23 people have died due to landslides, cloudbursts and floods, while 35 people are missing.
Property worth Rs 1200 crore damaged
Government and private property worth more than Rs 1200 crore has been destroyed in this rainy season. More than 1000 houses have been damaged due to heavy rain and cloudburst.