Close shave for schoolkids as tree collapses on SUV in Panchkula

The city has been reeling under incessant heavy rainfall since Tuesday night, bringing daily life to a standstill and causing widespread disruption. The deluge triggered major incidents across the district, the most alarming of which occurred on Wednesday morning outside Satluj Public School in Sector 4.

A Scorpio car carrying six schoolchildren had a miraculous escape when a tree came crashing down on it.

Panic gripped the area as crowds gathered at the accident spot, leading to a traffic jam outside the school. Witnesses said the children were already inside the vehicle when the tree fell, otherwise the incident could have turned into a tragedy.

The confusion was compounded by the administration’s order declaring a holiday for government and private schools around 7 am after children had already arrived in the morning. As soon as the closure was announced, parents rushed to schools in large numbers, leading to long queues of vehicles and congestion outside schools across the city. Parents criticised the timing of the administration’s decision. “At 7 am, most children have already entered school premises. What is the point of declaring a holiday so late?” asked one parent. Another resident questioned the lack of accountability: “Even after the Deputy Commissioner’s orders, some schools continued to call in children. Who will take cognisance of such violations? Why is the administration silent while children’s lives are put at risk?”

“There were no clear instructions earlier. Today, after the announcement, schools were suddenly shut and parents had to rush. Thankfully, children have reached home safely,” said another anxious father.

Adding to the chaos, the fallen tree also uprooted an electricity pole, plunging the area into darkness. A team from the electricity department rushed to the spot to clear the pole, while police and municipal staff began removing the tree with the help of a JCB machine.

City roads submerged, power supply hit

Waterlogging was seen in various localities. Following the release of water from Sukhna Lake’s floodgates, Rajiv Colony in Sector 17 witnessed flooding, while major roads turned into streams, slowing down vehicular movement. Chandigarh Transport Undertaking buses were rerouted.

Near the Tau Devi Lal Stadium and along the Panchkula–Zirakpur highway, fallen trees further obstructed traffic, forcing vehicles heading towards Kalka to be diverted through inner sectors.

The downpour also disrupted electricity supply in several parts of the district. Officials confirmed that a major power supply station located on the expressway near Barwala was affected. A video went viral where three or more pumps were used to get the water out of the supply station.

Ghaggar swells,

admn on high alert

The Ghaggar river is flowing above the danger mark due to continuous downpour and discharge from Sukhna Lake. Authorities and police personnel have been monitoring the situation round the clock.

The highway stretch from Nada Sahib to Sector 25 crossing, near Jhuriwala dumping ground, has been damaged, while a bridge over the Nandana Choe shows signs of strain. Another bridge near Mubarikpur-Sanauli road lies completely submerged. People living in nearby jhuggis were asked to evacuate, with health officials on site urging them to practise hand hygiene and consume clean water. A medical camp has been set up for a week.