Heavy Rain in Himachal: Schools, Colleges to Remain Shut Till September 7

The Himachal Pradesh government has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and educational institutions-both government and private-till September 7 following continuous heavy rainfall across the state.

The official directive was issued on Wednesday by Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar, who confirmed that the move was taken keeping in mind the safety of students and staff as weather conditions continue to deteriorate.

IMD Issues Red Alert for Himachal

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a red alert across several districts in Himachal, including Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Solan. The forecast warns of moderate to heavy rainfall in the next few hours, raising the risk of flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging in vulnerable regions.

Officials have urged residents to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow safety advisories. Emergency response teams are on standby in rain-hit districts.

Rain Havoc in Jammu & Kashmir and Beyond

While Himachal faces its own crisis, Jammu & Kashmir has been hit harder. Districts like Reasi, Rajouri, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, and Kishtwar are reeling under extremely heavy rainfall.

Between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning, Reasi recorded 203 mm of rain, which later climbed to 230.5 mm by September 3 morning, making it one of the worst-hit regions. Katra reported 193 mm, Batote 157.3 mm, and Doda 114 mm. Several other places, including Jammu city, Banihal, Ramban, and Pahalgam, also recorded heavy showers.

The continuous downpour has triggered fears of flash floods, landslides, and overflowing streams in hilly areas, prompting authorities to stay on high alert.

Punjab, Haryana, and Other States Also on Alert

The rain warning extends to Punjab and Haryana as well. Punjab districts under red alert include Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Rupnagar, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur. In Haryana, Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and SAS Nagar have been flagged as vulnerable.

The IMD has also issued alerts for eastern Rajasthan, southwest Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Ladakh, highlighting the widespread impact of the current weather system.

Rainfall Across India

Heavy rains were reported across central and eastern India as well. Chhattisgarh witnessed intense showers, while moderate rainfall was recorded in Uttarakhand, Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal, coastal Odisha, coastal Maharashtra, coastal Karnataka, and the Andaman Islands.

Authorities Urge Caution

Authorities across the northern and central states are urging people to stay indoors, avoid waterlogged or landslide-prone routes, and follow weather updates closely. Rescue teams and disaster management units remain on alert to respond to emergencies.