Met issues orange warning for rain on Saturday in parts of Himachal

Shimla, Jul 7 (PTI) Light to moderate rains continued to lash parts of Himachal Pradesh, while the Shimla Met Office on Tuesday issued an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places in the state on July 11. It also cautioned of heavy to very heavy rain in Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur and Shimla districts and said heavy rain is likely in isolated parts of Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan and Kullu districts on Tuesday. The weather department advised the general public to follow traffic advisories, avoid vulnerable areas and keep a safe distance from water bodies. Guler in Kangra district received 45.6 mm of rainfall since Monday evening followed by Sarahan (34.5 mm), Sundernagar (31.2 mm), Nadaun (22.8 mm), Sujanpur Tira (21.4 mm), Kahu (18.2 mm), Bhabanagar (17.2 mm), Nahan (14.8 mm) and Shimla (13 mm). Shimla, Jubberhatti, Bhuntar, Murari Devi and Sundernagar witnessed thunderstorms and lightning, the weather office said. Himachal Pradesh received 54.7 mm of rain between July 1 and 7, against a normal rainfall of 43.4 mm, recording an excess of 26 per cent, officials said. Kinnaur district received 161 per cent excess rain, while Lahaul and Spiti district registered 40 per cent. PTI BPL PRK