Shimla/Dehradun: Widespread rain and fresh snowfall in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh have brought apple harvesting preparations to a virtual standstill just as growers enter a crucial phase of the season, while landslides, falling boulders and slippery roads have disrupted movement across several mountain corridors in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The latest spell has hit the higher-altitude apple belts of Kinnaur, Shimla and adjoining areas, with fresh snowfall reported in Chitkul and other high reaches of Kinnaur and in Kaza and Chicham in Lahaul-Spiti. The weather has sharply lowered temperatures in the upper valleys, raising concern among growers preparing to harvest and transport their crop.
For apple growers, the timing is particularly sensitive. Continuous rain at the harvesting stage can interrupt picking, packing and transportation, while wet orchards and slippery link roads can make movement of labour, crates and vehicles difficult.
The India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rain over Himachal Pradesh on September 28. Its subsequent outlook indicates scattered rainfall on September 28 and isolated rain on September 29 and 30, with largely dry conditions expected from October 1.
The weather has already begun disrupting road connectivity. The Kalka-Shimla National Highway was affected around Chakki Mod after boulders and muck came down onto the road. The vulnerable stretch has remained a recurring trouble spot, raising renewed questions over the effectiveness and speed of permanent remedial work.
The Shimla-Rampur corridor has also witnessed disruption, with falling boulders and a landslide reported near Nathpa in Kinnaur. Within Shimla town, smaller landslides have occurred at vulnerable points, though PWD machinery was deployed to clear the debris.
In Kinnaur, the weather has turned particularly harsh in the higher villages. Chitkul received snowfall, while heavy rain and snowfall have affected normal life in several parts of the district. Reports have also emerged of an avalanche on the Rani Kanda route beyond Chitkul, where 26 pilgrims on the Kinner Kailash route were safely evacuated.
The situation is equally concerning for tourists heading towards Lahaul-Spiti. Fresh snowfall has been reported in the higher reaches, including Kaza and Chicham, while the onset of wintry conditions has made travel in high-altitude areas increasingly unpredictable.
The weather warning comes at a time when tourist movement remains significant across the trans-Himalayan valleys. Travellers heading towards Kinnaur, Spiti, Pangi and Bharmaur need to factor in sudden snowfall, rockfall, mudslides and temporary road closures rather than relying only on normal September travel conditions.
Across the border in Uttarakhand, the weather situation has become more serious. IMD has issued a heavy-rain warning for September 28, following extremely heavy rain warnings for September 26 and 27.
The Char Dham Yatra has been suspended amid the adverse weather. A landslide on the Kedarnath trek route stranded pilgrims, with rescue teams evacuating around 1,500 pilgrims from the Chirbasa area on Monday. Continuous rain and rockfall have complicated movement along the route.
Around 136 mountaineers have also been reported stranded at different locations in Uttarakhand’s mountainous areas because of heavy snowfall, while road blockages caused by landslides have affected travellers elsewhere in the state.
The IMD’s Char Dham forecast shows rain or thundershower possibilities around the pilgrimage region, while the department’s warning specifically keeps Uttarakhand under a heavy-rain warning for September 28.
The immediate warning for apple growers and farmers is to avoid unnecessary movement into exposed orchards and high-altitude fields during periods of intense rain or snowfall and to secure harvested produce wherever possible before roads deteriorate.
For tourists and local residents, the risk is not limited to rainfall itself. Saturated slopes can trigger sudden landslides and rockfalls, while fresh snow can make high-altitude roads slippery and visibility poor.
Travellers planning journeys towards Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Pangi and Bharmaur in Himachal Pradesh, and Kedarnath and other Char Dham destinations in Uttarakhand, should check the latest IMD forecast and local administration and road-clearance advisories before starting their journey.
The current spell may ease in Himachal Pradesh after September 30 according to the available IMD outlook, but conditions on individual mountain roads can change much faster than the broader weather forecast.
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