Forty-four persons were stranded for four hours overnight near Kunzum Pass in Himachal’s Lahaul and Spiti district, police said on Monday.

The rescue operation was carried out by the district police from 2.30 am to 6 am, they said.

The passengers were on their way to Kaza from Koksar when the bus got stuck in the mud about 500 m behind Kunzum Pass, towards Batal, police said.

The police received information on Monday that a bus carrying 44 persons and a pickup truck were stuck near Kunzum Pass. A team was immediately rushed to the spot and began the rescue operation, they said.

The passengers of the bus included 23 men, 19 women, a driver and a guide, they said.

SP Lahaul and Spiti Mayank Chaudhary said that after the incident, keeping in mind the security, the district police decided that no tourist vehicle will be allowed from Koksar to Kaza and from Losar to Koksar after 4 pm.

Only local vehicles, emergency vehicles and tourists with bookings will be allowed to travel towards Losar, and from Losar to Koksar after 4 pm, Chaudhary said.

Meanwhile, parts of Himachal Pradesh continued to receive intermittent rain as the Met office issued a ‘yellow alert’ on Monday, predicting heavy rains in isolated areas of the state later in the week.

The meteorological department in Shimla has forecasted a wet spell in Himachal Pradesh till July 21.

Intermittent rains have lashed some parts of the state since Sunday evening, with the highest rain recorded in Sundernagar at 36.8 mm, followed by Mandi at 16.6 mm, Pandoh at 12 mm, Poanta Sahib at 8.2 mm, Karsog at 8.1 mm, Gohar at 7 mm, Baggi at 5.7 mm, Slapper at 4.5 mm, Solan at 4.4 mm and Kufri at 4 mm.

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 27, so far, the state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 183 crores, and 29 persons have died in rain-related incidents, according to the state emergency operation centre.

Kukumseri in Lahaul and Spiti was coldest at night, recording a low of 10.9 degrees Celsius, while Una was hottest during the day, recording a maximum temperature of 37.4 degrees Celsius.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today laid the foundation stone of a new tourism complex at Auhar in Bilaspur district to be constructed at a cost of Rs 33.75 crore. This complex will feature modern facilities like a hotel block, a food court and a recreation zone and is expected to be completed in two years.

The Chief Minister said that the hotel block would have a reception-cum-waiting area, a restaurant with a seating capacity for 60 people, a conference room for 30 people, a ‘dham hall’ for 400 persons, a banquet hall for 300 persons and several other facilities. “The new complex will epitomise luxury and cater to tourists with its state-of-the-art facilities,” he added.

Sukhu said, “The second phase of the complex will be constructed on the opposite side of the road with both blocks interconnected. This phase will feature an amusement park for children, a food court and other essential amenities and the project will cost Rs 150 crore.” He added that the state government was committed to improving infrastructure and providing world-class facilities to tourists so that they did not face any inconvenience during their stay in the state.

He said that tourism was a crucial sector for strengthening the state’s economy. It offered significant employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth of the state. “The government is making all-out efforts to make Himachal Pradesh the top tourist destination,” he added.

Later, while talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude to people for supporting the Congress in the byelections. He said that people had rejected the “Operation Lotus” and the politics of horse-trading by sending six former MLAs home, delivering a strong message against the BJP’s conspiracy. He asked Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and other BJP leaders to learn a lesson from the public mandate and play a constructive role as the Opposition.

Sukhu said that development was hindered due to the election code of conduct and assured people that the Congress government would expedite decision making for the state’s benefit. He also listened to public grievances. Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani, former MLAs Babu Ram Gautam and Tilak Raj, Congress leaders Vivek Kumar and Pushpinder Verma and Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq were also present.

Congress candidates, including Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s wife, are in the lead in the two assembly constituencies of Dehra and Nalagarh, while the BJP candidate is ahead in Hamirpur.

Sukhu’s wife Kamlesh Thakur was leading by 9,265 votes against her nearest rival and BJP candidate Hoshiyar Singh in the Dehra assembly seat after the 10th round of counting.

Congress candidate Hardeep Singh Bawa was also leading by 6,870 votes after the sixth round against the BJP candidate K L Thakur in the Nalagarh assembly seat.

In the Hamirpur assembly seat, BJP’s Ashish Sharma, who was trailing in the first four rounds against Congress’ Pushpinder Verma, was now ahead by 1545 votes after the seventh round.

Thirteen candidates were in the fray from the three seats.

Faced with a severe financial crunch, the Himachal Pradesh Government on Friday decided to do away with subsidy on electricity bills for all income taxpayers in the state.

The decision taken by the Cabinet will affect taxpayers across the board, including the Chief Minister, ministers, legislators, bureaucrats, Class I and II employees, businessmen, etc.

However, people from the below poverty line (BPL) /Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) categories besides other weaker sections who do not pay income tax will continue to get the benefit.

Already in the red, the HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB) accumulated Rs 1,800 crore in losses in 2023-24. The board, which has over 12,000 employees, gets a grant of Rs 950 crore annually from the state government. The amount that the HPSEB will save by way of the Cabinet decision is yet to be worked out, point out officials.

The Cabinet further approved rationalisation of provisions for zero electricity bill for domestic consumers by restricting subsidy to ‘one family, one meter’ and linking the electricity connections with ration cards (Aadhaar seeded).

There are 26 lakh power consumers in the state, of whom 12 lakh are getting the zero electricity bill benefit by consuming less than 125 units. With many consumers having multiple meters, the government proposes to save around Rs 200 crore annually by rationalising the zero electricity bill for domestic consumers.

The state is grappling with a severe financial crisis with the total debt burden crossing Rs 85,000 crore. With the reduction in revenue deficit grant and GST allocation, the fiscal health of the state may worsen.

There has been an average decline of 12.72 per cent in the snow cover in the river basins of the Chenab, Ravi, Beas and the Sutlej in the Himalayas during 2023-24 as compared to a decline of 14.05 per cent during the last winter.

Most of the Himalayan glaciers are losing mass and a large shift is being observed in the snowfall patterns
Concrete steps like switching over to e-vehicles and renewable energy, which will help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, need to be taken so that the rise in temperatures can be checked, says DC Rana, Director Environment
State capital Shimla had received negligible snowfall in the past two winters

Though there has been a decline in the snow cover this winter, it was relatively less as compared to the winter of 2022-23. However, the Ravi basin has shown a marginal increase in the area under snow during 2023-24.

The findings are based on the satellite imagery studies undertaken by the State Centre on Climate Change under the aegis of the HP Council for Science Technology and Environment (HIMCOSTE). As per the studies to assess the winter precipitation in the form of snow, the maximum decline of 15.39 per cent this winter was witnessed in the Chenab basin, followed by 12.45 per cent in the Sutlej basin, 9.89 per cent in the Ravi basin and 7.65 per cent in the Beas basin.

What is worrisome is the highest decline in the snow cover in January; the dip was 67 per cent in the Sutlej basin, 64 per cent in the Ravi basin, 43 per cent in the Beas basin and 42 per cent in the Chenab basin, as compared to the previous year’s winter. The snow cover in February and March showed a positive trend in all basins.

About one third of the total geographical area of Himachal remains under a thick snow cover during the winter season and the major rivers like the Chenab, Beas, Parvati, Baspa, Spiti, Ravi, Sutlej and its perennial tributaries originating from the Himalayas depend upon the seasonal snow cover for their discharge dependability.

“The mapping of the seasonal snow cover in terms of its spatial distribution covers different river basins in Himachal Pradesh during the winter season from October to April. It is an important input for understanding the contribution of snow in different catchments to sustain the hydrology of the river basins,” said DC Rana, Director Environment.

The winter precipitation was mapped in all basins, including the Chandra, Bhaga, Miyar, Beas, Parvati, Jiwa, Pin, Spiti and the Baspa between October 2023 and April 2024. It was also seen that during the peak winter months of December to February, all basins showed a declining trend except the Sutlej basin, which showed a 2 per cent positive trend.

A landslide obstructed the route to Manimahesh Dal lake in Bharmour area of Chamba district on Thursday.

A 19-second video of the event that occurred between Goinallah and Donali, made by a traveller, turned up on social media.

Though Manimahesh Yatra starts from August 17 and stays on till September 15, devotees and tourists take the yatra outside these dates as well.

The administration has asked people not to take the route and has put up information boards on the stretch.

Eleven roads including four each in Shimla and Mandi and three in Kangra, are closed for vehicular traffic following rain last week, the state emergency operation centre said.

Light rain continue to take place across the state.

Kasauli, with 39 mm of rain, was the wettest, followed by Dharamsala 22.6 mm, Poanta Sahib 22 mm, Nahan 13.2 mm, Olinda 8.4 mm, Sarahan and Dalhousie 6 mm each, and Shimla 3.5 mm.

The Met office in Shimla has issued a ‘yellow’ warning predicting heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places on Friday and Saturday. It has predicted a wet spell till July 17.

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti recorded a minimum night temperature of 11.7 degrees Celsius, while Una was hottest during the day recording a high of 38 degree Celsius.

Meanwhile, the state Directorate of Tourism and Civil Aviation in a statement said majority of the roads in the state are open and accessible for the tourists and residents.

Key tourist destinations, including Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti are open for tourists, the statement read.

With the onset of the monsoon in the state, a noticeable decline in tourist arrivals has been observed in Kullu-Manali, marking a significant drop in the region’s bustling hospitality sector.

Hotels, usually abuzz with vacationers and adventurers during peak summer months, are now grappling with dwindling occupancy rates, which have plunged to nearly 30 per cent.

The allure of Kullu-Manali, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, adventurous activities and vibrant local culture, typically attracts tourists in big numbers in the summer. However, with the arrival of the monsoon, the dynamics shift dramatically. The weather becomes unpredictable, with intermittent showers and occasional landslides, posing challenges to travel and outdoor activities. These conditions deter many prospective visitors from visiting the region, leading to a sharp decline in their footfall.

Local hoteliers and tour operators, who eagerly anticipate the peak season each year, are now facing a stark reality. The once bustling streets and crowded markets of Kullu-Manali are now wearing a deserted look. Businesses that thrive on tourism, such as restaurants, souvenir shops, and adventure sports operators, are experiencing a slump in their income.

“We usually witness a surge in bookings from April to June. But in July, the number of bookings comes down noticeably,” said Hem Raj Sharma, a hotel owner in Manali. “The monsoon brings its own charm to the hills, but it also decreases the number of tourists,” he added.

“The decline in tourist influx has broader economic implications for the region. Kullu-Manali heavily relies on tourism as a primary source of revenue and livelihood for its residents. The seasonal nature of tourism here means that businesses must maximise earnings during the peak season to sustain themselves through the quieter months,” said Anup Thakur, president, Kullu-Manali Prayatan Vikas Mandal.

The authorities are also focusing on infrastructure development and safety measures to mitigate the impact of monsoon-related challenges. Road maintenance and disaster management strategies are being reinforced to ensure the safety of both residents and visitors.

A voter turnout of about 71 per cent was recorded in the bypolls in three Assembly constituencies of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, according to data shared by the state election department.

Polling was peaceful in the Nalagarh Assembly constituency, which recorded the highest polling of 78.1 per cent, Hamirpur (67.1 per cent) and Dehra (65.2 per cent), election officials said.

Data is being compiled and the polling percentages could increase, they said.

The seats fell vacant after Independent legislators Hoshiyar Singh (Dehra), Ashish Sharma (Hamirpur) and K L Thakur (Nalagarh), who had voted in favour of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls held on February 27, resigned from the state assembly on March 22 and joined the party the next day.

Votes will be counted on July 13.

In a straight contest between traditional arch-rivals, the Congress and the BJP, the stakes are high for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu with his wife Kamlesh Thakur making her electoral debut from Dehra in Kangra district.

This constituency was carved out after delimitation in 2010 and the Congress has never won this seat.

The Chief Minister campaigned aggressively in Dehra, compared to two other seats, to ensure victory for Kamlesh Thakur, who is in the fray against BJP nominee Hoshiyar Singh, who won the seat as an Independent candidate in 2022 for the second consecutive time.

In 2012, Ravinder Singh Ravi of the BJP was elected from Dehra.

To woo the electorate, Sukhu said during the campaigning, “Dehra will technically get a CM (Chief Minister) if they elect his wife.”

The main opposition BJP, which has won all four seats in the just concluded parliamentary elections, has fielded K.L. Thakur from Nalagarh and Ashish Sharma from Hamirpur, where they will be pitted against Congress’ Hardeep Bawa and Pushpendra Verma, respectively.

Both KL Thakur and Ashish Sharma won the seats as Independent candidates in 2022 before joining the BJP earlier this year.

The duo, along with Hoshiyar Singh, resigned from the Assembly in March and joined the BJP.

The bypolls were necessitated after the Speaker accepted their resignations on June 4. With four new legislators, the Congress has stabilised its government in the state.

At present, the Congress has 38 MLAs in the Assembly House of 65, while the BJP has 27.

Traffic movement on Circular Road in Shimla was partially disrupted after a landslide occurred near the site of an under-construction parking lot near Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.

The incident occurred on Monday night when a portion of the road sunk due to rainfall. However, no loss was reported in the incident.

Taking immediate action, the district administration restored traffic movement on the road on one side and covered the sinking section with tarpaulin to prevent any further impact from the rain.

As a precautionary measure, the power supply to an electric pole located at the site was cut off to prevent from damages.

Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap along with other senior officials of the district administration reached the spot upon receiving the information and took stock of the situation.

The DC said that the Superintending Engineer of the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department has been instructed to start relief work at the site early in the morning to ensure that people do not face any inconvenience.

He assured that traffic arrangements would remain smooth at the site.

Additionally, there is a water supply pipe at the incident site. Instructions have been given to officials of the Jal Shakti Department to ensure its safety.

The DC also appealed to the people to remain vigilant during the monsoon season and immediately report any such incidents to the administration.

Municipal Commissioner Bhupinder Attri at Shimla Municipal Corporation along with other officials also visited the spot. He said that restoration work is going on and the road will be complete within a week.

Rain in parts of Himachal Pradesh triggered landslides on Monday, prompting the authorities to close more than 70 roads, including a national highway.

The Shimla-Kinnaur Road (National Highway 5) was blocked near the Nathpa sliding point in Kinnaur district, officials said.

According to the state’s Emergency Operation Centre, 70 roads — 31 in Mandi, 26 in Shimla, four each in Sirmaur and Kinnaur, two each in Hamirpur and Kullu and one in Kangra districts — besides National Highway 5, are closed for traffic.

It added that 84 transformers and 51 water schemes were also affected.

Moderate showers lashed some parts of the state since Sunday evening, with Malroan recording the highest rainfall at 70 mm, followed by Shimla (44 mm), Kasauli (38.2 mm), Kufri (24.2mm), Nahan (23.1 mm), Sarahan (21 mm), Mashobra (17.5 mm), Palampur (15 mm), Bilaspur (12 mm) and Jubbarhatti (10.5 mm).

The regional Met office in Shimla has issued a ‘yellow’ warning for heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places on July 11-12.

It also cautioned of damage to plantation, horticulture and standing crops, partial damage to vulnerable structures, minor damage to kutcha houses and huts due to strong winds and rain, disruption in traffic and waterlogging in low-lying areas.

Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur campaigned for BJP candidate Hoshiyar Singh in the Dehra constituency of Kangra district today. However, many of his supporters in the constituency maintained distance from Hoshiyar Singh, with whom they had bitter relations.

Anurag said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was looking for a new political pasture in Dehra as the people of his own constituency Nadaun had rejected him. The Chief Minister could not get a lead for the Congress in Nadaun in the recent Lok Sabha elections, he added.

The former Union Minister said that the Chief Minister and his wife were now calling Dehra as their native place. However, ironically, the roads to the Chief Minister’s paternal village and his wife’s native village were still kutcha, he added. “In the 18-month tenure of the Congress government, neither the Chief Minister nor his wife had spared a thought to get the roads to their paternal villages metalled,” he alleged.

Anurag said that the only achievement of the Congress government was that it had closed around 900 institutions opened in the state by the previous BJP government. Besides, this government had burdened the state with additional loans of about Rs 25,000 crore, he added. “The Congress government has taken Rs 25,000 crore additional loans and pushed Himachal into a debt trap. The government has been cribbing about the rising debt burden but has liberally allotted Cabinet ranks to friends,” he alleged.

He said that the Centre had sanctioned development projects for Dehra, including the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) campus. He alleged that the work on the campus of the CUHP at Jadrangal in Dharamsala was getting delayed as the state government was not depositing money for the transfer of forestland in the name of the CUHP.

Asked about the absence of former minister Ramesh Dhawala from the campaign for the Dehra byelection, Anurag said that Hoshiyar Singh met him today and differences between the two leaders would be ironed out.

About the Enforcement Directorate raids on stone crushers in Hamirpur, he said that investigating agencies were doing their job and he would not comment on it.

On Saturday, a case under Section 75 of the BNS and Section 8 of the POCSO Act was registered at the Kullu Woman police station against a schoolteacher following complaint from the project coordinator of Child Welfare Committee, Kullu.

According to the police, the complainant alleged that several girl students of Government Middle School in the Kullu district were sexually harassed by their schoolteacher. The case is under investigation.

The police are looking into all aspects of the case and efforts are on to arrest the accused teacher,” said a police officer.

Heavy rain lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh, including Kangra’s Dharamshala and Palampur where rainfall levels exceeded the 200-mm mark.

According to the emergency operation centre, 150 roads, including 111 in Mandi, 13 in Sirmaur, nine in Shimla, eight each in Chamba and Kullu, and one in Kangra district, are closed for traffic following torrential rains.

The centre also said that 334 transformers are disrupted and 55 water supply schemes have been affected in the state.

Kangra’s Dharamsala recorded the highest rainfall of 214.6 mm, followed by Palampur 212.4 mm, Jogindernagar 169 mm, Kangra city 157.6 mm, Baijnath 142 mm, Jot 95.2 mm, Nagrota Suriyan 90.2 mm, Sujanpur Tira 72 mm, Dhaulakuan 70 mm, Ghamroor 68.2 mm, Nadaun 63 mm and Berthin 58.8 mm.

The Shimla meteorological office has issued a “yellow” alert, warning for thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places till July 12.

Other tourist destinations of Dalhousie received 31 mm of rain, Manali received 30 mm, Kasauli 24 mm, Narkanda 19 mm and Shimla 17.2 mm.

According to the parameters, 2.5-15.5 mm of rain is considered light rainfall, 15.6 mm-64.4 mm as moderate, 64.5-115.5 mm as heavy, 115.6-204.4 mm as very heavy and over 204.5 mm as extremely heavy.

The minimum temperatures witnessed an appreciable fall and Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti recorded the lowest night temperature at 6.9 degrees Celsius on Friday night.

On Thursday night, Kukumseri in Lahaul and Spiti recorded a minimum temperature of 11.6 degrees Celsius.

So far, the state has received 72.1 mm of rain against the normal of 35 mm, an excess of 106 per cent in the month of July.

Shimla police on Friday claimed to have busted an inter-state drug racket, recovering 169 grams of heroin and arresting four drug peddlers in the process.

According to officials, a case under Sections 21 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered against the accused, with the estimated value of the contraband between Rs 25-30 lakh.

Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi stated that the contraband was seized from an inter-state drug peddlers’ gang.

“The arrested accused have been identified as Rahul, Anil, Deepak, and Karan – all residents of Amritsar, Punjab. They were apprehended during a patrol based on secret information near Chaulanthi. We recovered 169 grams of heroin from their possession,” SP Gandhi said.

Property worth Rs 2 crore is being investigated to trace the drug money links. In the last 15 months, we have registered 600 cases and arrested about 1,000 peddlers,” SP Gandhi added.

This year, in observance of World Drug Day, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Shimla police organised a bike rally in the city to raise awareness about drug abuse in the region.

Heavy rain lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh, leading to the closure of 85 roads for vehicular traffic.

The Shimla meteorological office on Thursday issued an ‘orange’ alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places till Friday and warned of flash floods risk in a few areas in Mandi, Sirmaur and Shimla districts.

As many as 85 roads including 59 in Mandi, 21 in Shimla, four in Mandi and one in Kangra were closed for vehicular traffic following rains and 17 transformers were disrupted in the state, according to the state emergency operation centre.

A portion of the stretch between Mandi and Pandoh of the Chandigarh-Manali four-lane highway which had developed cracks on Wednesday caved in on Thursday, forcing officials to allow only one-way traffic, officials said.

Locals said a retaining wall was constructed by spending lakhs of rupees but it has started sinking and has gone down by about two feet. They questioned the quality of the construction.

The tarring work is going on at the spot on a war footing, project manager Raj Shekar had said earlier.

The meteorological department said monsoon activity is likely to intensify and spells of heavy to very heavy rainfall are likely over the next two-three days at a few places in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts.

The Met office also issued a ‘yellow’ warning for heavy rains on July 6 and 7, and cautioned of damage to plantation, horticulture and standing crops, partial damage to vulnerable structures, minor damage to ‘kutcha’ houses and huts due to strong winds and rain, disruption of traffic and waterlogging in low-lying areas.

Sundernagar has received 119 mm of rainfall, the highest in the state, since Wednesday evening.

Palampur received 109.4 mm of rainfall, Shimla 90.6 mm, Gohar 80 mm, Solan 79.8 mm, Mashobra 78.5 mm, Jogindernagar 75 mm, Baijnath 70 mm, Mandi 68.2 mm, Kufri 59.2 mm, Kangra 49.2 mm and Narkanda 48.5 mm during this period.

Narkanda in Shimla district recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 13.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night while Una was the hottest during the day with a maximum temperature of 33.6 degrees Celsius.

The Dalai Lama, who had undergone a knee replacement surgery in the US, is recovering well. To allay the concerns of thousands of followers of the Dalai Lama across the world, his personal physician, Dr Tsetan, issued a statement on Thursday.

In the statement Tsetan’s said, “Today is the fifth day since His Holiness had the knee surgery. Both his surgical doctor and physical therapist said after assessing His Holiness that he has made tremendous improvement. His recovery rate is much higher than other patients’ undergoing similar treatment. A lot of people were concerned that this treatment and the recovery process would be very painful. However, the pain is very low and His Holiness can now walk. Day by day, he is getting better. Now our plan is to move His Holiness out of New York to a more spacious, open area with clean air and natural landscape. A lot of people both inside and out of Tibet are worried. I want to ask everyone not to worry.”

He said that as per the investigative methods of the traditional Tibetan medical system that involves investigating pulse movements and urine analysis, the Dalai Lama’s condition is getting much better. His pulse movements — the pulse rate and mode of pulsation — are well balanced and indicate reaching a state that is disease-free or a homeostatic state. There is no need for people to worry about the Dalai Lama’s condition, he added.

The Dalai Lama, who is 88 years old, was facing difficulty in walking independently due to knee problem. He used to take assistance from his close associates to walk. He left Dharamsala on June 20 for the knee replacement surgery. He underwent surgery on June 28. Tibetans in exile had been organising prayers for early recovery of the Dalai Lama.

Heavy rain lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh, affecting vehicular traffic on Wednesday while the meteorological department warned of more rainfall along with thunderstorms till July 7.

Katuala was the wettest in the state with 169 mm of rain followed by Pandoh with 117 mm, Sujanpura Tira 88 mm, Gohar 60 mm, Mashobra 58 mm and Dharamsala 56.4 mm, the meteorological department said.

Jot received 54 mm of rain, Kahu 51.5 mm, Baggi 40.2 mm, Mandi 38.2 mm, Malron 35 mm, Baldwara and Sundernagar 30.6 mm each and Kufri 30 mm.

As many as 18 roads, including 12 in Mandi, four in Chamba and one each in Kangra and Lahaul and Spiti districts were closed for vehicular traffic following rains.

The local weather office issued a yellow warning for heavy rains along with thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh till July 7.

Bhuntar was hottest during the day with a maximum temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius while Kukumseri in Lahaul and Spiti recorded a minimum temperature of 12.3 degrees Celsius.

The Dainkund hill near the picturesque town of Dalhousie has been transformed into a breathtaking wonderland as fields of white daisies are blooming across its high hills. The stunning natural spectacle has not only captivated locals, but also attracted tourists from across the country, who are eager to witness the mesmerising beauty of the delicate flowers.

Every year, as the monsoon season approaches, the hills of Dalhousie come alive with the blooming of white daisies. This year, the bloom has been abundant, creating a sea of white flowers that stretch as far as the eye can see. The daisies, with their bright white petals and yellow centres, contrast beautifully with the lush green backdrop of the hills, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairy tale.

The bloom has turned Dainkund trekking trail into a hotspot for nature enthusiasts, photographers and travellers seeking a tranquil escape. Local hotels and guesthouses have reported a surge in bookings. “It’s like walking through a dream,” says Ananya Singh, a tourist from Maharashtra. “The hills covered in daisies are simply magical,” she added.

Rajiv Mishra, a photographer, said, “I’ve travelled to many places, but the sight of these white daisies at Dainkund is unparalleled. It’s a paradise for photographers.” Similarly, Meera Mohan, visiting from Bangalore with her family, remarked, “The beauty of Dainkund was beyond words.”

The influx of tourists has also provided the much-needed boost to the local economy as the hill station is bustling with activity, benefiting from the increased footfall.

In light of the bloom, there has been a renewed focus on conservation efforts in the region. Environmental groups are working to ensure that the influx of tourists does not negatively impact the delicate ecosystem. Visitors are being encouraged to respect the natural environment, avoid littering and stick to designated paths.

The white daisy bloom holds a special place in the hearts of Dalhousie residents. It is seen as a symbol of purity and peace, embodying the serene and tranquil spirit of the region.

Dainkund is the highest point of the tourist town of Dalhousie. Nestled in serene valleys, the Dainkund peak is an ideal tourist destination for nature lovers and for those seeking moments of tranquillity. A temple of Pohlani Mata is also situated nearby. On the opposite side of the hill is the Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary.

Five tourists from Uttar Pradesh were on Tuesday morning rescued from a rivulet in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.

The incident occurred at Banair Khud when the tourists ventured into the water for a bath.

Suddenly, the water level surged and they were trapped in the middle of the flow.

Police, home gaurd jawans staff from fire department successfully effort rescued all the tourists.

They had arrived at Banair Khud around 9 am when the sudden rise in the water level, due to overnight rainfall, created a life-threatening situation.

Local residents also played a crucial role in the rescue operation, ensuring everyone was brought to safety.

The Himachal government has been consistently advising both locals and tourists to avoid rivers, streams and landslide-prone areas, especially during the rainy season. However, many tourists continue to ignore these warnings, venturing into hazardous areas and risking their lives.

The recent incident in Kangra reminds the tragic drowning in Lonavala on Sunday, in which five persons, including four from a family and three children, drowned in a waterfall behind the Bhushi Dam.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla today said that there were no differences between the state government and the Raj Bhawan and the misunderstanding between the two has been cleared. The issue has been clarified by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

“One of the ministers, due to some communication gap, had said that the file regarding a Bill has been pending with the Raj Bhawan. However, the Chief Minister has now clarified the position and said that the file has been lying with the state government,” said Shukla while taking to the media in Solan today.

It may be recalled that Shukla, while addressing a press conference, had expressed his displeasure over the manner in which Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar had been accusing Raj Bhawan of delaying communication on a file pertaining to passing of the Bill for the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the Palampur Agriculture University.

Shukla said the Chief Minister has admitted that the communication from the Raj Bhawan has been lying with Secretary (Law) for the last three to four months and the Raj Bhawan is not at fault in any way. He said the statement by the Chief Minister has clarified the situation.

The Governor also expressed concern at the alarming drug addiction in Himachal. “We all need to join hands to fight against the menace of drug addiction. We need to work in this direction to ensure that Himachal does not follow its neighbouring states, which are afflicted with drug addiction among youth,” he said. This is a problem which the society needs to fight collectively and there is need to create awareness among the public before it is too late.

“Two days back only I had talks with the chief minister and told him that the administration must be on alert regarding the monsoons. It appears he has already held meetings with officials so that there is better preparedness to tackle any eventuality,” he said.