Punjab on Sunday was found grappling with a deluge of heavy rainfall that has led to widespread waterlogging, flooding, and significant disruptions across the State. The relentless downpour, which began early Sunday morning, has submerged eight districts, causing severe hardships while also bringing some respite from the oppressive heat that had gripped the region for weeks.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for 12 districts, including Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, and Ludhiana, warning of continued heavy rainfall.
The impact has been devastating in some areas, with Hoshiarpur witnessing the tragic loss of nine lives. A group of 12 people, traveling in an Innova car, was swept away by the strong current while attempting to cross a swollen river. The bodies of the victims have been recovered, but two people remain missing, and the driver, who survived, is being treated at a local hospital. All the victims were residents of Himachal Pradesh, on their way to attend a wedding in Nawanshahr.
The heavy rains have also resulted in severe waterlogging in various cities, turning streets into rivers and disrupting daily life. In Ludhiana, several markets were inundated with up to three feet of water, forcing shopkeepers to shutter their businesses. The situation in Jalandhar was equally dire, where heavy rains over just two hours caused widespread flooding, exposing the inefficiencies of the city's drainage system. Many homes were inundated, and residents were left battling rising water levels.
Mohali, too, faced significant challenges as the deluge caused water to enter homes in Phase XI, exacerbated by overflowing sewage systems. The situation became so dire that residents blocked the road from the airport to Chandigarh in protest, demanding immediate action from authorities. Police were dispatched to the scene to manage the situation, but the residents vowed not to move until their grievances were addressed.
Despite the havoc caused by the rains, the downpour did provide some much-needed relief from the intense heat that had been plaguing the region. Temperatures dropped significantly, offering cooler climes that were welcomed by many. However, the overall rainfall this monsoon season has been deficient, with Punjab experiencing a 23 percent shortfall in rainfall for August so far. From August 1 to the morning of August 11, the state received 51.7 mm of rain, compared to the long period average of 67.1 mm for this time.
The current wet spell is expected to ease by Monday, but the damage has already been done. The rains have somewhat alleviated the rainfall deficiency in the region and have boosted water levels in crucial reservoirs, which had been significantly below normal. Yet, the aftermath of the heavy rains — flooded homes, disrupted lives, and the loss of loved ones — serves as a stark reminder of the power of nature and the urgent need for better preparedness and infrastructure to cope with such extreme weather events.
As the state begins the recovery process, the Punjab Government is urging residents, especially those in low-lying areas, to remain vigilant and heed any further warnings from authorities. The full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed, but it is clear that this bout of heavy rainfall has left a lasting impact on Punjab, both in terms of immediate devastation and the longer-term challenges of managing its water resources effectively.
Respite From Heat
Heavy rains swept through Punjab and Haryana on Sunday, offering a welcome respite from the sweltering heat that had gripped the region for weeks. The deluge brought a significant drop in temperatures, cooling the area by two to six degrees below the seasonal average, according to meteorological reports.
Key cities such as Chandigarh, Mohali, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, and Ambala were among the hardest hit. The intense rainfall resulted in widespread waterlogging across various locations, including Yamunanagar, Ambala, Ludhiana, and Mohali, causing considerable disruption.
In Chandigarh, the rainfall totaled 129.7 mm, while other notable measurements included Rupnagar with 64 mm, Patiala with 62 mm, and Ludhiana with 57 mm. In Haryana, Ambala recorded 82 mm, followed closely by Gurugram with 77 mm.
Rain Boosts Dams’ Reservoir Levels
Heavy rains have been a double-edged sword for the reservoirs in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, offering both relief and challenges. The recent downpours have contributed to a rise in water levels in some areas but have highlighted significant deficiencies in others.
In Himachal Pradesh, the Pong Dam on the Beas River has seen an improvement due to continuous rainfall. However, the water level remains 46 feet below the danger mark, with the current level at 1344.06 feet, compared to 1375.45 feet on the same date last year. Despite the inflow of 1,03,824 cubic feet per second, and an outflow of 55 cubic feet per second, the dam’s water levels are still significantly below expected norms. The Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej, meanwhile, is experiencing lower storage levels at 46 percent of its 10-year average.
In Punjab, the situation is more severe. The Thein Dam on the Ravi River is at just 19 percent of its total capacity, a stark contrast to the 64 percent average for this time of year. This current storage level is 70 percent below normal, underscoring the severe impact of inadequate rainfall on the region’s water resources.
The combined water levels at the three dams in Himachal Pradesh remain 15 percent below normal, while Punjab's lone reservoir is facing a critical shortfall of 70 percent.
Rains lashed many parts of Hry, Gurugram residents face waterlogging, traffic woes
Chandigarh/Gurugram: Rains lashed many parts of Haryana on Sunday, bringing respite from humid weather conditions. As per Met official, Ambala recorded 83.8 mm of rainfall, Karnal 36.8 mm, Sirsa 20 mm and Hisar 6 mm. Chandigarh, the common capital of the Punjab and Haryana received 28.8 mm of rainfall. Continuous rainfall for a few hours resulted in significant waterlogging, with key roundabouts in sectors 34, 20, 27/28 and 35 as well as areas like Manimajra, Khuda Ali Sher, Khuda Lahora and Maloya becoming inundated. On Sunday, Chandigarh recorded a minimum temperature of 25.3 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature on Saturday was around 34 degrees.
Moreover, Heavy rains in Gurugram led to severe inundation, particularly in residential areas, and traffic jams across the city. A heavy spell of monsoon rain turned major roads of the city into streams on Sunday, and waterlogging was reported in several areas. As per the data from the District Administration, Gurugram city recorded 53 mm of rain till 8.30 am. The data also showed that Wazirabad saw the maximum rainfall of 64 mm.
Waterlogging was reported in several areas, including Sector 30, 31, 40, 45, 47, 51, 22, 23, 4, 5, 12, 13 48, Police line, Bus Stand Road, Sheetla Mata Road, Narsinghpur service road, Hero Honda Chowk, Basai Chowk, Khandsa, Sanjay Gram Road, Sohna Road and Subhash Chowk. The heavy waterlogging caused major traffic snarls in these areas.
Sectors 7, 6, 29, 39, 38, Palam Vihar, Sheetla Colony and Rajiv Nagar also had flooded streets. The waterlogging impacted the Gurugram-Delhi Expressway and several subways, making travelling a nightmare for commuters. The pedestrians had to wade through knee-deep water in many places.
The overnight heavy rainfall wreaked havoc across Gurugram and exposed the tall claims of the city administration. On July 2, the District Administration appointed 14 officers and an Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) as nodal officers to ensure early draining out of the water in case of flooding at 112 locations. But the decision has not yielded any result as shown by the latest deluge.
“A total of 1,000 plus traffic personnel have been deployed at major junctions for traffic operations. We also coordinated with the civic authorities to drain out the water for smooth traffic movement," said Virender Vij, DCP (traffic).
Heavy Rains Ravage Himachal, Causing Severe Disruption, Flooding
Shimla: Heavy rains have wreaked havoc across Himachal Pradesh, transforming serene landscapes into disaster zones with landslides and flooding. The relentless downpours have disrupted daily life, leaving essential services in disarray and causing widespread damage. Authorities report that 288 roads have been rendered impassable, cutting off connections on five national highways, severely impacting connectivity and isolating communities. Additionally, 458 power transformers are down, plunging many areas into darkness; while 67 water supply schemes have been knocked offline leaving residents without clean water.
The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for the region, predicting severe weather with thunderstorms and heavy rain until August 16. The warnings extend across several districts, including Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur, where flooding and landslides pose ongoing risks. In Nahan, the relentless rain has led to a sudden surge in water levels, flooding neighborhoods and threatening homes. Despite the severity of the downpours, around 40 homes in Rakkar Colony narrowly avoided severe damage due to the swift intervention of local authorities.
The situation in Kangra has been particularly dire, with Shimla-Mataur four-lane road collapsing in multiple places and several under-construction bridges on the National Highway are now on the verge of failure. The SDM office in Jaisinghpur is now submerged, and overflowing rivers have turned the area into a waterlogged expanse.
Despite an ongoing orange alert, Shimla and other regions like Dharamshala, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur experienced persistent light rain through Saturday night. The downpours caused significant disruptions, with Amarpur in Nahan seeing rainwater invade homes and businesses, and fertile land in the Kundiya Panchayat area being washed away. Heavy rainfall also struck Nahan, Dhaula Kuan, Jubbarhatti, and Paonta Sahib, while Sirmaur faced flooding that damaged a factory in Satiwala, ruining cement bags. The NH 707 Paonta-Shillai National Highway remains obstructed near Chilun due to debris accumulation.
In the Parwanoo-Solan region, falling rocks have posed severe hazards to travelers. A notable incident involved a bus skidding at Tambumod while avoiding a biker, though all passengers escaped without injury.
Temperature readings on Saturday varied across the State, with Una at 34°C, Bilaspur and Chamba at 33°C, Hamirpur at 31°C, Kangra at 29°C, Mandi and Dharamshala at 27°C, Nahan at 28°C, Solan at 25°C, Kalpa at 26°C, and Shimla at a cooler 21°C.
A severe cloudburst in Khab, Kinnaur, has dangerously swollen the Baspa River, prompting authorities to issue a yellow alert for the next six days. The region continues to grapple with torrential rains and widespread flooding, underscoring the severe impact of the ongoing weather conditions. Local authorities have advised residents to remain cautious and avoid travel unless necessary.
