Shimla/June 10: The hills of Himachal Pradesh, usually a summer retreat, are reeling under an intense heatwave, with temperatures breaking seasonal records across several towns.
Una boiled at a scorching 42.4°C, making it the hottest spot in the state. Kangra followed close at 40.4°C, while Bilaspur touched 40.1°C.
Even the usually cool hill stations didn’t escape the heat — Dharamshala recorded 35.1°C, Manali clocked 30.5°C, and Shimla wasn’t far behind at 29°C, several notches above the normal June range.
Meteorological officials said this early June heat spell is worrying. “Such high temperatures in hilly regions are not normal. The heatwave is likely to persist for the next 48 hours,” said a weather officer from Shimla.
Relief may come later this week. According to the IMD, parts of Himachal — including Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur, Kinnaur, and even Lahaul-Spiti — could see rain, thunderstorms and lightning from June 13 to 15.
Meanwhile, residents and tourists alike are struggling to cope. "Even in the evenings, there’s barely any breeze.
The charm of the hills is lost in this scorching heat," said Kiran Thakur, a local shopkeeper in Dharamshala.
Authorities have urged people, especially the elderly and children, to stay indoors during peak hours and stay hydrated. Forest officials are also on alert due to the increased risk of wildfires during such dry spells.
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