Chandigarh, August 18: Monsoon rains lashed isolated parts of the tricity, leaving several key stretches inundated and causing localized traffic bottlenecks across Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. The cloudburst-like spell occurred shortly after the India Meteorological Department issued a short-range warning regarding sudden convective showers across the area.
“Residents are advised to exercise extreme caution, avoid low-lying and waterlogged roads, and postpone non-essential travel during the period of heavy rainfall,” official advisory alerts declared.
The weather department confirmed that localized intense showers hit northern sectors and peripheral regions within minutes of the alert broadcast.
“Heavy showers at isolated places over Chandigarh, SAS Nagar, and Panchkula were predicted following radar tracking of rain-bearing clouds,” meteorologists stated.
Commuters faced severe difficulties navigating flooded roundabouts and sector dividing roads during peak evening hours, with municipal authorities urging motorists to exercise caution near low-lying underpasses. Drainage response teams were dispatched to clear blocked stormwater drains across high-impact zones to relieve standing water.
Weather agencies maintained that intermittent spells of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning are expected to continue across the tricity over the coming days.
