Heavy rain alert in Chandigarh for another three days

Moderate to heavy downpour continuing for the past five days has left a trail of destruction in different parts of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula with the weathermen predicting continuation of widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region for another three days.

Taking cognisance of the situation, the District Magistrate Nishant Kumar Yadav has banned with immediate effect the entry to Sukhna Choe, Patiala Ki Rao and other water bodies in Chandigarh, which are running along the danger mark. Besides, the Ghaggar river also continues to be in full spate endangering the public lives and properties along the catchment areas.

The Chandigarh Administration has also ordered the closure of all schools in the city on Wednesday as well while all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, and polytechnics/ ITIs were already closed in Mohali till tomorrow.

Following the incessant rain since the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, several roads across the tricity region and bridges over the seasonal choes have been washed away forcing the authorities to close them for vehicular traffic while the rainwater has also entered houses and commercial establishments causing damage to the public property.

The Punjab Government had already confirmed damage to standing crop over 2,000 hectares of land with one life lost and 7,000 persons badly hit due to disrupted access roads in Mohali so far.

Reports of damage to vehicles and other properties following the falling of trees and poles besides disruption in power and water supplies also continued to pour in from the tricity pockets. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued orange and yellow alerts for another heavy to very heavy spell of rain till Friday.

“A spell of widespread rainfall activity with heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places is very likely over Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana during the next 24-36 hours,” the weatherman has predicted. Heavy to very heavy rain at few places is likely till September 3 over Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana followed by heavy spell at isolated places on September 4 and 5 in the southern parts of Haryana.

In an order issued under section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the DM has restricted the entry of humans and pet animals/cattle in the water bodies like lakes, ponds, nullahs and choes for all purposes so that their lives are not put at stake. The order issued with immediate effect shall remain in force till October 31. Any breach of this order would invite action under section 223 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023.

Meanwhile, Chandigarh and Panchkula received 43-mm rainfall each while Mohali logged 45-mm downpour during the past 24 hours. Despite the continuous showers, the day temperature shot up to 2.8 notches while the night temperature fell by 1.4 degree Celsius. While Panchkula recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 22.4 degree Celsius in Haryana, the relative humidity in Chandigarh remained unchanged at 96% today.

Region alerts

Orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday.

Yellow alert for heavy rain in Chandigarh and Haryana on Thursday and Friday.

Schools shut in Panchkula blocks

Panchkula DC Monica Gupta has ordered closure of all schools in Morni block, 44 in Barwala, 92 in Pinjore and 16 schools in Raipur Rani blocks on Wednesday.