Shimla, April 30 -- Like the rest of India, battling an intensifying heatwave, the usually cooler hill regions of Himachal Pradesh are also witnessing an unusual spike in temperatures. Although areas like Manali, Shimla, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, and Kinnaur are still classified as hill regions with "normal" temperatures, they are now running 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave conditions persist across the plains of Himachal, particularly in districts such as Una and the Bhuntar region of Kullu. In these areas, temperatures have been 5 degrees Celsius above normal for the past four days.

Senior IMD scientist Shobhit Katiyar, based at the Meteorological Centre in...