Himachal braces for severe weather: IMD issues warnings for thunder storm and hailstorms

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for severe weather conditions in ten districts of Himachal Pradesh, expected to unfold within the next three hours on Friday. Despite initial forecasts of thundershowers and hailstorms, the actual weather proved more severe with heavy rainfall and snowfall affecting numerous areas, causing disruptions to normal life.

In the upcoming hours, districts including Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmour, Solan, and Una are under heightened vigilance, with thundershowers anticipated in various locations and scattered instances of hailstorms.

These weather advisories will remain active until 1830 hrs on Friday, urging residents and authorities to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.

Looking ahead, the state anticipates predominantly dry weather for the next two days, with isolated occurrences of rain or snowfall. However, cautionary measures are still recommended, especially in the foothills and mid-hills regions, where sporadic rain or snowfall is expected on April 22 and 23.

The issued warnings cover a range of potential hazards, including thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail, and gusty winds with speeds reaching 40 to 50 km per hour. These adverse conditions pose significant risks to power infrastructure, essential services, communication networks, and transportation systems, potentially disrupting daily life across the affected areas.

Agriculture, a crucial sector in the region, faces substantial threats from the adverse weather. Farmers are advised to implement protective measures such as anti-hail nets and hail caps in fruit orchards to mitigate mechanical damage. Additionally, providing mechanical support to horticultural crops and staking vegetables are recommended strategies to safeguard agricultural yields.

Thursday witnessed hailstorms wreaking havoc in Jubbal, damaging blooming apple orchards, while a distressing incident occurred in Kullu district where a bus skidded off a hail-prone road, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by residents and travelers alike.