Severe heatwave grips Himachal Pradesh

Yog Raj Sharma

The North News
Shimla, June 11
Unrelenting heatwave conditions have gripped Himachal Pradesh, with five districts—Una, Kullu, Mandi, Hamirpur, and Bilaspur—recording extreme temperatures in recent days. Una registered the highest temperature in the state at 44.2°C yesterday, marking a severe deviation from seasonal norms in the hill state. According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, maximum temperatures have surged past 40°C in Neri (Hamirpur), Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur, and Kangra. Even the state capital Shimla, known for its cooler climate, approached 30°C.

An orange alert has been issued for heatwave conditions across four to six districts for the next 48 hours. Sandeep Kumar Sharma, a scientist at the Shimla Met Office, said districts including Una, Hamirpur, Kullu, Mandi, Kangra, and Solan remain under heightened risk. Relief may be on the horizon, however. A yellow alert has been issued for thunderstorms, rain, and gusty winds between June 13 and 15, potentially bringing some respite, he said.