Shimla, June 28,
The onset of the first monsoon rain has wreaked Shimla, with heavy downpours on Thursday night causing extensive damage across the city. Shimla recorded around 84.3 mm of rainfall, while the Shimla Airport at Jubbarhatti received 136 mm during the same period. The showers, which began post 10 PM, also highlighted the inefficiency of the Municipal Corporation’s (MC) preparations as debris from clogged drains spread across numerous locations.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the monsoon became active in most areas of the state on June 27, 2024, and is expected to cover the entire region within the next 48 hours.
The situation led to significant inconvenience, with garbage and debris littering the streets in many parts of the city. One particularly severe incident occurred on the Malyana Surala road, where three vehicles were buried in debris from an overflowing drain. The parked cars were engulfed in muck and debris due to the downpour. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as no one was present near the drain or in the vehicles at the time. Vehicle owners discovered the damage in the morning and began extracting their cars with the help of laborers.
Also read:Weather News: Wet Spell expected in Himachal Pradesh till July 1
In another incident, two vehicles parked on the side of the Malyana bypass were damaged when a hill cracked and debris fell onto the road. The overnight rain caused the hill to give way, striking the parked cars.
This first monsoon rain has underscored the urgent need for better drainage and infrastructure maintenance in Shimla to prevent such occurrences in the future. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for heavy to very heavy rain from June 29 to July 1, urging residents to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions.
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