Heavy Downpour Forces School Closure In Himachal As Weather Office Issues Fresh Alerts

Relentless rainfall across Himachal Pradesh forced authorities to close all government and private schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in Sirmaur and Solan districts on Friday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of extremely heavy rain, flash floods, landslides and road blockages across the hill state. The district administrations of Sirmaur and Solan issued precautionary closure orders under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, citing the increasing risk posed by continuous rainfall. Officials said deteriorating weather conditions had disrupted normal life, particularly in rural and hilly areas, making travel unsafe for students.

Separate orders issued by Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Verma and Solan Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma said persistent rain had led to blocked rural roads, heightened landslide risks and unsafe commuting conditions. The authorities said the decision was taken to safeguard students from potential hazards arising from the severe weather. Schools in Sirmaur's Paonta subdivision had already been shut late on Thursday. On Friday morning, the Sub-Divisional Magistrates of Nahan, Sangrah, Pachhad and Rajgarh extended the closure to educational institutions in their respective jurisdictions. Officials clarified that while classes were suspended, teaching and non-teaching staff would continue to report for duty.

According to the IMD, several parts of Himachal Pradesh witnessed intense rainfall from Thursday evening. Pachhad in Sirmaur recorded the highest rainfall at 207 mm, followed by Nahan with 158.5 mm, Kasauli 145 mm and Dharampur 136.8 mm. Other areas also received substantial rainfall, including Solan (113 mm), Palampur (109 mm), Jot (83 mm), Jubbarhatti (72.9 mm), Dhaulakuan (70 mm), Paonta Sahib (62.8 mm), Kufri, Bharwain and Ghaghas (62 mm each), Shillaroo (60.1 mm), Shimla (58.8 mm), Kahu (56.8 mm) and Mashobra (55 mm).

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The weather department warned that the ongoing spell of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods, landslides, uprooting of trees and widespread road blockages, posing a serious threat to life and property. Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel, especially in vulnerable hilly regions. Heavy rain also disrupted transportation across the state. Several roads in Sirmaur were closed due to waterlogging and landslides, while the District Disaster Management Authority reported that 27 link roads in Shimla district remained blocked for vehicular movement. Restoration work was underway in affected areas.

In Shimla city, a retaining wall collapsed in the Vikasnagar locality, damaging two parked vehicles. In Brandli village, another retaining wall attached to a residential property suffered damage due to the heavy rain. Meanwhile, water entered the campus of the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Sunni, prompting officials to evacuate the premises as a precaution. Authorities said disaster response teams and local administration officials remained on alert to respond to emergencies. Residents living in landslide-prone and low-lying areas have been advised to follow weather updates and cooperate with evacuation orders if required, as the IMD expects the wet spell to continue in parts of Himachal Pradesh.

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