Himachal Pradesh Faces Furor of Nature with Heavy Rain, Winds, and Downed Trees

Himachal Pradesh was battered by severe weather, including strong winds and hailstorms, uprooting trees and causing power outages in Dharamshala. Swift action from local departments aimed at clearing debris and restoring power was underway, while another Western Disturbance is predicted to bring more rain to the region soon.

Himachal Pradesh experienced severe weather on Wednesday night, as strong winds uprooted trees in Dharamshala and surrounding areas amid an alert for heavy rains and hailstorms, issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Power outages plagued many regions when trees collapsed onto power lines, with local electricity officials reporting that damage assessment efforts were ongoing and power would be restored shortly. Meanwhile, Shimla's roads faced blockages due to fallen trees, prompting the Forest Department to deploy teams of laborers for debris removal.

While local teams engaged in cleanup operations from early morning, the IMD forecasts suggest that another weather system will affect Himachal Pradesh from April 18, bringing more rain. This disturbance is likely to result in rainfall across the state according to Shobhit Katiyar, IMD's Senior Scientist in Shimla.

(With inputs from agencies.)