Chandigarh: 110-mm rain in 3 hours throws life out of gear
Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 11
The “very heavy rainfall” in the city today made it the wettest August day in four years.
According to the Chandigarh weather department, the city today witnessed 129.7 mm of rainfall in a single day and 110 mm of it was recorded in just three hours — from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.
24-hour rainfall
129.7 mm on August 11, 2024
84 mm on August 23, 2023
57.9 mm on August 15, 2022
55.4 mm on August 5, 2021
133.5 mm on Aug 12, 2020
While last year, the highest 24-hour rainfall was recorded at 84 mm on August 23, it was 57.9 mm on August 15 in 2022 and 55.4 mm on August 5 in 2021. This month’s normal rainfall is 284.8 mm and the city has already received 221.4 mm in just a span of 11 days.
Owing to good amount of rainfall today, the maximum temperature fell by 6.2°C making the weather cooler. The day’s temperature dropped from 34°C yesterday to 27.8°C today, which is six degrees below normal.
“In three hours only, 110 mm of rainfall was recorded. There was circulation over Haryana. Monsoon was active in Himachal Pradesh comprising Sirmaur and Shimla. Monsoon condition improved at Bay of Bengal. All these combined factors led to good rainfall in the city,” Surender Paul, Director, Chandigarh Meteorological Department, told Chandigarh Tribune. He added that the monsoon was likely to remain active off and on over the next three to four days.
Meanwhile, 110 mm of rainfall in three hours proved too much for the city’s storm water drainage system, which was designed to handle 15 mm/hour rainfall in the northern sectors and 20 mm/hour in the southern areas. Resultantly, roads, markets and residential areas were flooded. People complained of rainwater entering their houses and shops. Several commuters complained of vehicle breakdown and getting stuck in deep water on roads.
The steel market in Sector 29 was flooded, forcing the authorities to press into service an emergency fire vehicle to ease the situation in the waterlogged area. “Our godown sunk in rainwater. We faced huge losses due to the faulty drainage system,” lamented Gulbhashan Goyal, a trader at the steel market.
Rainwater entered several houses in low-lying areas of colonies and villages. Babu Singh Jandiala, president, Maloya RWA, said, “Residents faced trouble as rainwater entered houses in low-lying areas. They had to save their household items from getting damaged due to rainwater.”
Similar reports came from some houses in Dadu Majra. In HalloMajra, residents complained that sewage mixed with rainwater entered their houses.
Fire wing department had a tough time in bringing out a car that got stuck in the rainwater at the Industrial Area underpass leading to railway station. It took 45 minutes to extricate the vehicle. Rainwater had entered inside the car, causing its breakdown.
Due to overflow of nullah, one of the entries to Rose Garden, Sector 16, got blocked. “Drainage system is out of order here. The water should have been channelised,” said Rahul Mahajan, a city resident who shot a video of the site.
Baljinder Singh Bittu, Chairman, FOSWAC, commented, “The MC fails to properly clean road gullies. Every year, they have eight months to prepare, but it is the same story every monsoon season.”
Teams formed to help out residents: MC
The MC claimed to have swung into action to clear rainwater accumulated in the city. Following the orders of MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra, engineering teams led by Chief Engineer NP Sharma pumped out rainwater from different parts of the city by deploying machinery and manpower. Trees, which fell during the rain, were lifted immediately to restore traffic in the city. The control centres set up by the MC were operational round the clock in three shifts. These centres can be reached out by citizens in case of emergency due to waterlogging, etc.
Rain-hit MC Teej event deferred
Chandigarh: Rain played a spoilsport for the MC’s annual Teej celebrations. The evening musical programme scheduled for Sunday had to be postponed due to heavy rain. If weather remained fine, then it would be held on Monday at the same venue, said officials. — TNS
13 Rupnagar schools flooded
Mohali: As many as 13 government primary and secondary schools of Nangal, Salora, Jhaj, Rupnagar and Anandpur Sahib blocks have been closed for August 12 as the buildings were flooded with rainwater on Sunday. — TNS
