Strong winds and rain disrupt life in Chandigarh tricity, trees uprooted and power outages reported

A sudden spell of strong winds and rain caused major disruption across Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula on Sunday morning. Winds reaching speeds of around 70 km per hour uprooted trees, damaged electricity poles, and led to roof collapses in several areas. The storm left three people injured and caused damage to vehicles and infrastructure across the region.

The impact of the storm was felt widely, with power outages reported in many parts of the tricity. Mohali was among the worst affected areas, where thousands of residents were left without electricity for several hours. In some places, power supply had not been fully restored even by late night.

In Chandigarh alone, around 50 trees were uprooted due to the strong winds. Many of these trees fell on roads, vehicles, and power lines, causing traffic disruptions and electricity failures. Officials reported that at least 14 electric poles were damaged, and more than 135 power-related disruptions were recorded in the morning.

Injuries, property damage and traffic disruption

The storm caused several incidents that led to injuries and property damage. In Mohali’s Sector 70, a man named Ashwani Mittal was seriously injured when a tree fell on him while he was out for a morning walk in a park. He suffered a fractured leg and head injuries and was taken to the hospital. Officials said his condition is stable.

In another incident in Phase 7, a child narrowly escaped injury when a large peepal tree collapsed near a temple. In Barmajra village, two people were injured after a roof collapsed when a nearby wall fell onto their house due to the strong winds.

Several vehicles were also damaged during the storm. In Sector 70’s HCL Society, a large tree fell on five parked cars, causing significant damage. In Kharar, an electricity pole collapsed onto a boundary wall, damaging a vehicle parked nearby.

Chandigarh also saw multiple cases of fallen trees blocking roads and damaging property. Traffic had to be diverted in areas like Sector 38 West road, near the Sector 23/24–36/37 intersection, and at the Sector 42 market junction. In Sector 16, a tree fell on cars parked outside residential houses, including those of senior officials.

In Sector 63, parts of a solar power installation were blown off and fell onto a car. Vehicles were also damaged in other areas like Sector 43 and Maloya. In Panchkula, trees fell in residential areas of Sector 9 and inside Yavnika Park in Sector 5, while sheds were damaged due to the high-speed winds.

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Power outages, flight delays and unusual weather conditions

The storm caused major damage to electricity infrastructure, leading to widespread power cuts. In Mohali, three high-tension poles collapsed near the 66 kV grid in Sector 71, disrupting several power feeders. As a result, thousands of homes in areas from Phase 2 to Phase 10 faced long power outages.

Residents in areas like Sector 70, Jandpur, Kharar, and Zirakpur also experienced electricity cuts. While power supply was restored in some areas by evening, several places including Phase 2, Sector 121, and Barmajra remained without electricity for a longer period.

The outages affected daily life significantly. Many residents reported problems with water supply, as water pumps could not function without electricity. Household appliances were also affected, causing inconvenience to families.

In Chandigarh, power was restored relatively quickly, with officials stating that most areas had electricity back by around 1 pm. Panchkula also faced outages in sectors like 4, 11, 18, and 21, but normal supply resumed by noon.

The storm also impacted flight operations at the Chandigarh International Airport. Several flights were delayed due to the weather conditions. Air India’s Hyderabad flight, which was scheduled to depart at 7:50 am, took off at 9:02 am. IndiGo’s Bengaluru flight was delayed from 8:10 am to 9:18 am, and a Mumbai flight also departed later than scheduled. However, arrivals were mostly not affected.

The weather conditions during the storm were unusual for this time of year. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the minimum temperature in Chandigarh dropped to 17.1 degrees Celsius, the lowest recorded in May since 1974. The city received nearly 20 mm of rainfall in the morning, with additional rainfall later in the day.

The IMD had issued a red alert ahead of the storm, warning of severe weather conditions. Officials said the storm was caused by an active western disturbance over the region. The timing of the storm in the early morning also contributed to the sharp drop in temperature.

Looking ahead, the IMD has issued an orange alert for thunderstorms and rain for the next two days. This means that people should remain alert and prepared for further weather disturbances. Temperatures are expected to remain slightly lower than normal, with maximum temperatures between 33 and 34 degrees Celsius and minimum temperatures around 19 to 20 degrees Celsius.

The sudden storm serves as a reminder of how quickly weather conditions can change and the importance of preparedness, especially during the pre-monsoon season.