CHANDIGARH, July 1 —Chandigarh has recorded 213mm of rain in June, the highest for the month in over a decade and 37% above the normal 155.5mm.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the downpour brought welcome relief from oppressive heat but plunged the tricity region — Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula — into chaos. Inundated roads, caved-in stretches, uprooted trees and poles, and prolonged power and water outages left residents battling disrupted routines for the second consecutive day.
“Compared to yesterday, there was a drop of 0.5 and 0.6 degrees in average maximum temperatures across Punjab and Haryana, with temperatures staying below normal by 3.8°C and 4.3°C, respectively,” the IMD said in its daily bulletin.
A yellow alert has been issued for isolated heavy rain with thunder and lightning over Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Punjab may also receive rainfall on Wednesday.
The overnight showers and Monday morning’s rain further exposed the ill-preparedness of local civic bodies. Residents navigated submerged roads and clogged drains with little official assistance. Several areas reported vehicles damaged by fallen trees or poles, while long hours of electricity outages and severe voltage fluctuations were common across sectors.
Submerged gulleys and dangling live wires added to the danger. “There was a major breakdown due to thunderstorm activity, which caused tripping and equipment failures,” said a senior electricity board official.
Monthly data released by the IMD shows that this June’s 213mm rainfall is the highest since 2013, when the city recorded 251.5mm. Last year saw a decade-low 11.9mm in June. Other recent June figures include: 43.7mm in 2014, 63.9mm in 2015, 133.6mm in 2016, 103.1mm in 2017, and 142.9mm in both 2018 and 2023.
Chandigarh’s maximum temperature on Monday settled at 30.7°C, 0.5°C higher than Sunday, but still 4.8°C below the normal. The minimum stood at 24.1°C, 3°C below normal.
In Punjab, Bathinda remained the warmest on Monday with a maximum of 38.6°C, while Sirsa in Haryana recorded 38°C, making them the hottest locations in the region. Interestingly, both towns also saw the lowest minimums the previous night, at 22.5°C and 23.3°C respectively.
With the forecast predicting more rain and thunderstorms until July 5, residents brace for continued disruption — and hope civic response improves before the next cloudburst hits.
