Teen Dies Four Days After Being Hit by Tree Branches Amid Storm

Chandigarh spared as system drenches Delhi with 81.4 mm rain; more spells, gusty winds likely till month-end

- Rajanbir Singh

CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh managed to escape the fury of a major thunderstorm system that battered large parts of Haryana, Punjab and Delhi on Saturday night, with only gusty winds and light rain recorded in the city.

While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for nearby areas like Rupnagar and Patiala, the system spared this region, heading towards the national capital instead.

Till 5.30 am on Sunday, Delhi recorded 81.4 mm rain, taking the total rainfall in the month to 186.2 mm, the highest in the city in May on record. Even Karnal in Haryana received 118 mm rain.

In contrast, Chandigarh recorded just 0.1 mm rain overnight and 0.2 mm during the day on Sunday. Winds in the city reached speeds up to 60 km per hour, but no major damage was reported, unlike the Wednesday night storm that had uprooted trees and left several city areas in the dark.

At the Chandigarh airport observatory, 13 mm of rain was recorded overnight and another 1 mm during the day.

According to Surender Paul, director, IMD Chandigarh, the storm system developed from a confluence of a strong Western Disturbance (WD) with easterly winds. "It started in the northern part of Punjab, and a red alert was even issued for Rupnagar and Patiala. But Chandigarh was able to escape the brunt of it. The maximum rain was recorded in Haryana, with 118 mm showers in Karnal," he added.

However, the relief may be short-lived, as more storms are likely to strike the region in the days ahead.