Heatwave grips Himachal Pradesh: tourists flock to cooler retreats
Shimla, May 17
Neri in Hamirpur experienced a severe heatwave, with temperatures soaring to around 43 degrees Celsius, today. Additionally, four other locations in Himachal Pradesh reported temperatures near 42 degrees.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the extreme heat on Friday led to several forest fires in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In one incident, a fire broke out in a cowshed in Jogindernagar, injuring a person who was attempting to rescue cattle.
According to the IMD, the maximum temperature recorded in Neri on Friday was 42.9 degrees Celsius. Other high temperatures included 42 degrees in Una and 41.7 degrees in both Dhaulakuna in Sirmour and Bilaspur town.
The heatwave has driven many people to seek relief in cooler areas, resulting in a surge of tourists in Shimla, Manali, and Dalhousie. Shimla recorded its highest temperature of the season at 28.7 degrees, which is 3.7 degrees above normal. Other tourist destinations reported warm temperatures as well, with Mashobra at 28 degrees, Kufri at 23.6 degrees, and Narkanda at 23 degrees.
In the mid-hills, Kangra, Sundernagar, and Mandi each recorded temperatures of 38.6 degrees, while Hamirpur and Chamba experienced 36 degrees and 35.6 degrees respectively. The airport at Jubberhati recorded 32 degrees, and Chamba reached 36.8 degrees.
Minimum temperatures varied across the region, with Shimla at 15 degrees, Manali at 7.2 degrees, Kalpa at 9.6 degrees, Dharamshala at 21.5 degrees, Nahan at 21 degrees, Keylong at 6.2 degrees, Solan at 17.5 degrees, Kangra at 20.4 degrees, and Mandi at 18 degrees. The lowest minimum temperature recorded was 5.8 degrees in Kukumsers.
The weather over the state remained dry in the past 24 hours, with no significant changes in temperature. However, the IMD has forecasted that inclement weather may bring some relief from the heatwave, with rain or snow expected in some areas from May 18 to 21.
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