The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall over Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh for the next 5 days.

According to the IMD, moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely over the western Himalayan region and some parts of the plains over the next 7 days. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places of East Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh today.

The weather department has said that Assam, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Coastal Karnataka, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Mahe, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Rajasthan will witness heavy rainfall at isolated places today.

Meanwhile, the agency has forecast hot and humid weather conditions at isolated places over Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

The monsoon in Himachal Pradesh has intensified further. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert, warning of heavy rainfall in some parts of the state till July 18.

Due to the heavy rain, road, electricity, and water services have been severely affected across the state, disrupting normal life. Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, a total of 92 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents, 33 are reported missing, and 172 have been injured.

Mandi district has reported the highest number of casualties with 21 deaths, followed by Kangra with 14, Kullu with 10, Chamba with 9, and Bilaspur with 7 deaths.

Akashvani correspondent, In the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall has been recorded in the districts of Mandi, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur. The highest rainfall was reported in Murari Devi, Mandi district, where 126 millimetres were recorded.

Light fresh snowfall has also occurred on the Rohtang Pass and higher peaks of Manali, leading to a drop of 0.6 degrees Celsius below normal in the minimum temperature.

According to the State Emergency Operation Center, a total of 247 roads, including two national highways, NH-003 and NH-21 remain closed due to landslides and other weather-related issues.

Additionally, 463 power transformers and 781 drinking water supply schemes have also been disrupted. Mandi district has been the worst affected, with 207 roads, 272 transformers, and 175 water schemes impacted, including two national highways.

In Kangra district, 606 water supply schemes have been affected, while in Hamirpur, 166 transformers are out of order, causing a severe power crisis.