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Heaviest rain of season leaves Chandigarh drenched
It was also the highest amount of rain recorded within 24 hours in September since 2010.
At 98.5mm, the Monday rain — which according to the weatherman was this monsoon’s parting downpour — was the highest this season.
It was also the highest amount of rain recorded within 24 hours in September since 2010. The month’s figure of 319.7mm is also the highest since 2010 when September recorded 323.1mm rain.
With 176.2mm rain recorded in the city in three days, the total rain this monsoon reached 996.2mm, already 18% surplus of the normal figure of 844.5mm (recorded from June 1 to September 30).
Besides being the rainiest, Monday was also the coolest day of the season, with both the maximum temperature of 23°C (around 5pm) and minimum of 20°C (around 6am) being the lowest this monsoon.
IMD officials said rain is expected to slow down from Tuesday. “Light to moderate rain is likely on Tuesday, but Wednesday onwards no rain is expected,” said the weatherman.
Also read: Flash floods, landslides: 25 dead as final monsoon burst smacks north
Snarls, power cuts leave people harried
Traffic lights were not working at most intersections since the morning, leading to snarls at Transport Chowk and Hallomajra Chowk. Police issued an advisory through its social media handles, asking people to avoid the roads near Sukhna Lake. Even the department of public relations issued an advisory telling parents not to send their children to school in the afternoon shift.
Power supply was disrupted in the morning in souther sectors. While it was restored in most sectors within half an hour, some remained without power for around three hours.
A continuous onslaught in Mohali
It poured continuously on Monday as residents and commuters in Mohali faced a harrowing time. Taking a precautionary measure, the government ordered that all educational institutions will remain closed on Tuesday.
Rainfall started early morning and continued till early evening. Incessant rain caused waterlogging in parts of the city and surrounding areas.
Roads were flooded in Phases 8, 9, 11, Sectors 79, 71, Shahimajra, Industrial Area, Mohali-Landran road, Bhagomajra, Kumbra, Jagatpura and a few other rural areas as water receded slowly.
Commuters on the Chandigarh-Kharar road faced a tough time as parts of the stretch turned into a pool and stormwater flowed into some shops adjacent to the road. National Highway authorities of India (NHAI) had repaired the pits and potholes and the recent rains washed out the sand and gravel.
“The road repair work was completed last week but this spell of rain has spoiled everything. Now the road repair work will be carried out only after the season is over,” said a NHAI official.
Rain also hindered traffic on the Mohali-Landran road. Due to clogged drains, water waded into some houses in Landran even as the villagers remained vigilant throughout the day. The area near Shivalik City on Landran road was under two to three feet deep water.
The same situation was witnessed in Dashmesh Nagar, Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar, Arya College Road, Desumajra, LIC Colony, Khanpur village and the grain market.
Due to continuous rainfall, some incidents of road cave ins were also reported. Internal road of Kumbra village caved in partly.
Mohali deputy commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra visited N-Choe and Ghaggar river to check the water level. “There is nothing to be panicked about. Water level is below the danger mark. But we are ready to face any situation. Necessary directions have been issued to the staff,” she said.
Anganwadis will also be closed on Tuesday across the district, following the chief minister’s order, said Sapra.
Commuters stranded
Rain flooded the two railway under bridges on Badala road and Randhawa road in Kharar, disrupting the connectivity of 10 villages whose residents use these roads for commuting. Residents of the area were forced to take alternate routes, extending their commute by four to five kilometres to reach Kharar.
Due to the construction of a flyover from Sunny Enclave to Khanpur Chowk, water and mud deposited on the road and the commuters had a harrowing time.
Similar stories in Dera Bassi, Zirakpur
In Zirakpur, waterlogging was witnessed in different areas but Baltana Chowk, Dasmesh Colony, Singhpura Chowk, VIP road were the worst affected.
The waterlogged railway under bridge at Janetpur village in Dera Bassi, connecting the locals with the National Highway and other villages, brought inconvenience.
“Faulty drainage system is to be blamed for such situations and no one seems to be bothered,” said Satinder Singh, a resident of the village.
