Chandigarh, August 18: Severe downpours battered the Chandigarh tricity region late Tuesday afternoon, leading to immediate waterlogging across several major road stretches, urban sectors, and low-lying areas. The sudden spell of heavy rain disrupted evening traffic and normal life across Chandigarh, SAS Nagar (Mohali), and Panchkula shortly after local authorities issued automated weather alerts directly to residents’ mobile phones.
“An emergency weather alert has been issued for the Tricity region, covering Chandigarh, S.A.S. Nagar and Panchkula, with heavy rainfall expected at isolated places,” weather authorities stated when issuing the advance notification.
Residents across the three contiguous cities received automated sound alerts around 5:30 pm, warning commuters to take necessary precautions before heavy cloud cover moved over the region.
The India Meteorological Department had earlier indicated that isolated spells of heavy rain were likely across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh as part of active monsoon conditions.
The sudden intensity of the rainfall led to rapid water accumulation on main arterial roads and inner sector routes, creating significant delays for evening commuters and leaving several vehicles stranded in flooded stretches.
Traffic personnel and municipal teams were deployed across key intersections to facilitate vehicle movement and manage drainage outlets as weather officials advised residents to postpone non-essential outdoor movement until conditions stabilized.
