Chandigarh drowns in rain, Madhya Marg bears the brunt

On Tuesday, heavy rain brought severe chaos to Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, leaving several roads inundated and traffic movement at a crawl. A portion of Madhya Marg, a key arterial road, was damaged, disrupting key traffic routes. The India Meteorological Department recorded 72.7 mm of rainfall by 6.30 pm on Tuesday.

The Chandigarh Traffic Police diverted traffic from Panchkula to the backside of Police Lines towards ITI Light Point due to the obstruction. In response to public safety concerns, officials were quickly informed and mobilized to inspect and repair the damaged road. Chief Engineer CB Ojha of the Chandigarh Administration confirmed that the damage was caused by a burst drainage pipeline, and repair work had commenced. The road had not collapsed, but the area was barricaded to ensure public safety.

Traffic disruptions were widespread, with water accumulation on roads causing slow-moving vehicles and long queues at multiple intersections. Social media was filled with complaints from residents about the traffic mayhem and the apparent lack of visible traffic police during the heavy rain. Some questioned the effectiveness of traffic police, while others expressed frustration over the extreme waterlogging and the time it took to reach their homes.

While the worst affected was the Madhya Marg stretch, the traffic problems were not confined to the city's internal roads. Commuters reported that even a short distance outside the city, such as from Kharar, was a "nightmare" due to poor basic infrastructure.