Tricity region braces for more rain as downpour continues

Moderate to heavy downpours have continued for the past five days, leaving a trail of destruction in Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. The weather department predicts widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region for another three days. Taking cognisance of the situation, District Magistrate (DM) Nishant Kumar Yadav has banned entry to Sukhna Choe, Patiala Ki Rao, and other water bodies in Chandigarh, which are running along the danger mark.

The Ghaggar river also continues to be in full spate, endangering public lives and properties along the catchment areas. The Chandigarh Administration has ordered the closure of all schools in the city on Wednesday, while all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, and polytechnics/ITIs, were already closed in Mohali until tomorrow.

Following the incessant rain since the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, several roads across the Tricity region and bridges over seasonal choes have been washed away, forcing authorities to close them for vehicular traffic. Rainwater has also entered houses and commercial establishments, causing damage to public property. The Punjab Government has confirmed damage to standing crops over 2,000 hectares of land, with one life lost and 7,000 persons badly hit due to disrupted access roads in Mohali.

Reports of damage to vehicles and other properties due to falling trees and poles, as well as disruptions in power and water supplies, continue to pour in from the Tricity pockets. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange and yellow alerts for another heavy to very heavy spell of rain until Friday.

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

IMD noted that the monsoon was vigorous over Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana during the past 24 hours, with light to moderate rainfall reported at most places in the region and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places. In an order issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the DM has restricted entry to water bodies like lakes, ponds, nullahs, and choes for all purposes to prevent loss of life.

The order, issued with immediate effect, shall remain in force until October 31. Any breach of this order would invite action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023. Meanwhile, Chandigarh and Panchkula received 43 mm of rainfall each, while Mohali logged 45 mm of downpour during the past 24 hours.

Schools closed in some Panchkula blocks

Panchkula Deputy Commissioner 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.

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.

TRICITY FORECAST

General and partially cloudy skies with thunderstorms and rain for the next five days till September 7 with day and night temperatures to remain between maximum 30 and minimum 24.

TRICITY METER

CITY               MAX         MIN          RAIN

Chandigarh      27.9°C       21.9°C       43 mm

Mohali             28.1°C       22.4°C       45 mm

Panchkula        27.2°C       22.4°C       43 mm

(SOURCE: IMD)