CHANDIGARH, Oct 6: Northern India witnessed a dramatic shift in weather on Monday, with several regions reporting snowfall, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and a sharp fall in temperatures.
The higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh, including Rohtang Pass and the Dhauladhar ranges, received fresh snowfall, signalling the onset of winter. Icy winds swept through mid and higher hills, pushing temperatures down sharply.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for districts including Shimla, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Lahaul-Spiti, warning of heavy to very heavy rain, hailstorms, and gusty winds. Traffic to Rohtang Pass has been suspended, and the Kullu administration has advised tourists and locals to avoid unnecessary travel.
Rain lashed several parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, with the IMD predicting more moderate to heavy rain on Tuesday. Farmers have been urged to take precautions against possible hail damage to standing crops.
Heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds hit Srinagar and several parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu division ordered the closure of all government and private schools from October 6 to 7 following IMD’s weather warning.
Earlier, intense rainfall in Rajouri triggered landslides, damaged homes and roads, and disrupted local life. Authorities continue to monitor vulnerable slopes, while the Vaishno Devi Yatra remains suspended from October 5 to 7 due to the IMD’s advisory.
In West Bengal, particularly Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri, incessant rainfall over the weekend caused severe landslides and flooding, claiming at least 23 lives. Rescue and relief operations are underway in the affected areas.
Light to moderate rain brought relief from hot and humid conditions in Delhi-NCR, with the maximum temperature dropping to around 29°C from Sunday’s 34.1°C.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 117 (“moderate”), while the IMD forecast thunderstorms with gusty winds to continue through the day.
