134 mm: 2nd highest of all time

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 21

In about six hours, 134 mm rainfall was recorded in the city, surpassing the previous record of July 27 when 120.8 mm rainfall was received in a single day.

As per the Met Department, the city received the second highest rainfall of all time in a day. In 2000, the city had witnessed 262 mm rainfall.

A Met Department official said the rain started around 7 am and left the city inundated by 10.30 am. From 8.30 am to 11.30 am, 112 mm rainfall was recorded. According to sources in the department, in Mohali, the downpour may have touched the 200 mm mark. Shivinder Singh, a scientist with the Chandigarh Meteorological Centre, said a prior warning was given about thundershowers and rainfall. “Only in some areas, there has been heavy rainfall whereas our observatory at the air force station recorded an average rainfall,” said Shivinder.

From August 1 to 20, the city witnessed 233 mm rainfall while 530.1 mm rainfall has been recorded since June 1 till August 20. With the today’s rainfall, the figure has gone up to 664.1 mm.

Trees uprooted, rainwater enters houses

Chandigarh: Heavy rain spelt a trouble for residents as trees were uprooted and rainwater entered several houses. Waterlogging was also witnessed in parts of the city. A flood-like situation was witnessed in Sectors 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 34, 35, 45, 49, 50, 51 and 52. Vehicles broke down and people were seen pushing their vehicles through water. Trees were uprooted at several places causing damage to cars and property besides leading to traffic jams. A boundary wall of the police station, Sector 31, collapsed after a tree fell on it. Another tree fell in Sector 32, affecting the flow of the traffic. Rainwater entered houses in Sectors 34, 37 and 44, Mani Majra, Mauli Jagran and Ram Darbar. Water also entered government quarters in the PU.  MC Chief Engineer NP Sharma said, “We had formed 21 teams to solve people’s problems. It was not a normal rain but a flash flood.” TNS

Mercury down by three notches 

The maximum temperature dipped by three notches to 30.4 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature was recorded at 25.2 degree Celsius. Heavy showers led to 100 per cent maximum relative humidity while in the evening, it decreased to 76 per cent.