Jalandhar hit by torrential downpour

Torrential rain accompanied by thunderstorms in the wee hours of Monday played havoc in Jalandhar, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and damage to property.

The city experienced what was possibly its heaviest rainfall of this season, with the downpour beginning around 2 am and submerging large parts of the city within an hour.

The Municipal Corporation reported several complaints of building collapses, uprooted trees blocking roads, and power lines snapped by falling branches. Electricity supply across several areas remained disrupted for over five hours, said officials from PSPCL.

Rainwater entered houses and shops. Posh colonies like Defence Colony and Model Town remained the biggest sufferers.

Congress leader Angad Dutta said, “Rainwater made way into several houses and shops in Defence Colony, something we have never seen earlier.”

Likewise, several showrooms in Model Town had their basements filled with rainwater. Rajiv Duggal, president of the Model Town Market Association, said, “At least 2-3 feet of rainwater accumulated in showrooms near Mata Rani Chowk. An electronics showroom storing phones and speakers in its basement had all these items floating in water. The estimated loss is around Rs 1 crore. Other shopkeepers in the vicinity also suffered losses.”