Overnight downpour cripples life in Chandigarh tricity

The overnight downpour threw normal life out of gear with Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula facing a flood-like situation. The incessant rain started late Thursday night and continued till the wee hours of Friday.

Most parts of the tricity were submerged in knee-deep water. Several roads in the tricity were damaged, forcing the authorities to close vehicular traffic on these stretches.

Though the residents woke up to a sunny day, the overnight downpour caused massive traffic jams in the morning. In Chandigarh, the Madhya Marg grid, Tribune Chowk and Transport Chowk witnessed serpentine queues of vehicles, while several road stretches leading to Panchkula, railway station and IT Park, which suffered major damage due to waterlogging, were closed to traffic.

Reports of trees and poles falling on vehicles and public property were also received. The IMD issued a yellow alert for heavy rain till Tuesday.

Record rain in Panchkula

Panchkula witnessed the record rainfall of 112.5-mm, which was not only the season’s highest but also the heaviest in the north region.

Chaos on Madhya Marg

Chandigarh: Chandigarh witnessed massive traffic jams on Madhya Marg on Friday morning, as the overnight rain left roads waterlogged. A few adjoining roads had to be closed for safety reasons near the Sector 26 light point. Traffic snarls were also witnessed during office hours near the PGI and the Sector 17-9-8-18 lightpoint. The situation was further compounded by uprooted trees and cave-ins.

Lightning strikes in Sector 7-C

Lightning struck a spot in Sector 7-C on Thursday night. No one was injured. A few cars parked outside houses were damaged. — TNS

Water enters Mohali houses

Mohali: Phase 11 residents staged a protest after rainwater flooded the ground floor of LIG and MIG houses. Residents complained that their household goods were damaged. Fire tenders were rushed to the area to drain the rainwater from the houses. Angry residents staged a sit-in on the road and raised slogans against Mohali MC, Punjab government and GMADA. The blockade was lifted after Mohali MC commissioner Parminder Pal Singh and senior police officials reached the spot and pacified the residents.

Farmer swept away in Lalru

A 65-year-old farmer in Lalru was reportedly swept away in the Jharmal rivulet this morning. Locals said Janak Singh Saini was returning from his fields across the rivulet in his cart. As he tried to cross it, the cart overturned. He, along with the bullocks, was swept away in the strong current. The cattle were found later but there was no trace of Janak. Police officials said they were searching for the victim.—TNS