20082025-CT-01.qxd 8/20/2025 12:47 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MARKET PANEL PREPARES SEC 26 MANDI REVAMP PLAN WORLD CUP CALL FOR MOHALI ALL-ROUNDER AMANJOT NANDA HAPPY AT RESPONSE TO DEBUT FILM GHICH PICH Gates will be installed at mandi to regulate the entry-exit points and stop unauthorised vendors. P3 Amanjot cements her place in Indian squad for a tournament slated to kick off on September 30. P3 Kabir Nanda, who plays the lead role, is happy that the film was well received at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. P4 » » PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 36.1°C | MIN 25.4°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.59 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5.53 AM » WEDNESDAY | 20 AUGUST 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Northern sectors afloat after 1-hr downpour Commuters stranded in jams on waterlogged roads during rush hours, rainwater enters shops in Manimajra Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 19 Several sectors in the northern part of the city witnessed a flood-like situation during heavy rain that continued for about an hour in the afternoon. There was chaos on roads with commuters remaining stranded in traffic jams on severely waterlogged stretches for hours. The India Meteorological Department observatory at DAV School in Sector 7 recorded 35-mm rainfall. Vehicles parked in the majority of the parking areas in markets as well as administrative premises, including the one near the Punjab and Haryana High Court, were seen submerged after the heavy rain. The rainwater also entered shops situated on the Old Ropar Road in Manimajra. Ruing the losses, traders said the drainage pipes in the area remain choked and result in the water accumulating on the roads and entering the shops. Vehicles submerged in rainwater at the High Court complex. A long queue of vehicles on a waterlogged stretch of the Sector 17/18 road in Chandigarh on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Traffic chaos on key roads, junctions Two Sukhna floodgates opened Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 19 Severe waterlogging was seen in Sectors 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and various roads and roundabouts of the city where the commuters faced problems. The traffic moved bumper to bumper at most of the roundabouts as vehicles and the pedestrians struggled to navigate through the flooded roads. Surinder Kumar, a resident, said it took him halfan-hour to reach the Tribune Chowk from the Sector-34 roundabout. The Madhya Marg witnesses the worst jam after water accumulated at key intersections, including the Matka Chowk, the Sector 17-18-9-8 light point and Transport Chowk, causing delays of up to an hour during the peak commuting hours. Several commuters were also seen pushing stalled vehicles out of inundated stretches. Exiting the city towards New Chandigarh via PGI and Panjab University also proved a challenge, as traffic remained paralysed within Chandigarh, August 19 Following torrential rain in the city and Sukhna Lake catchment, two of its three floodgates were opened today after the water level crossed the danger mark of 1,163 feet. Water released fifth time this rainy season Commuters stuck in a long traffic jam at the Sector 17/18/21/18 roundabout. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: RAVI KUMAR and around the campuses. “The inner-road near Sector 9 was completely flooded. My car stopped twice and I had to be pushed out by passers-by,” said a PU student from English Department. Another commuter, Nikita, who was returning from Sector 9 added, “It took me nearly an hour to cross just 3 km. The situation gets worse every monsoon.” Raj Kumar, a resident of Maloya village, said water logging has caused a lot of problems in the area, slamming the Municipal Corporation for ill-preparedness. Crores were spent on cleaning road gullies but the problem of the waterlogging persists, with low-lying areas of the city bearing the brunt. A two-wheeler rider crosses a >> flooded Sector 17/18 road. According to officials, one floodgate was opened around 3.30 pm and the other around 4.45 pm upto the height of three-six inches, respectively. One of the gate was closed around 8 pm when the water level dipped to 1,162.85 feet. Two floodgates were opened together for the first time this monsoon season. Earlier, one floodgate was opened on August 6, 8, 15 and 17 to release the excess water into the Ghaggar river through the Sukhna Choe. With the opening of the two floodgates, the Sukhna Choe water overflowed the Bapu Dham Colony and Shashtri Nagar bridge. The UT Engineering Department has decided to soon replace the existing lowlevel causeway over Sukhna Water gushes from two floodgates of Sukhna Lake on Tuesday. Choe near Bapu Dham Colony with a four-lane bridge. In July 2023, excess water released from the lake had damaged the bridge, which serves as an alternative route from Manimajra and Panchkula. The bridge had remained closed for five days. The UT Engineering Department has deployed officials at the regulator end of the lake on a 24x7 basis. CCTV cameras have been installed to regularly monitor the water level of the lake. A control room has also been established to coordinate with the district administration of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula for a proper communication during the opening of floodgates. The officials said that the district administrations of the neighbouring districts were alerted before opening of the floodgate. Floodgates were opened four times in 2023, six times in 2022, and five times in 2021. The opening of two floodgates in August 2020 had caused a severe flooding in the low-lying areas of Zirakpur situated alongside the Sukhna Choe. On September 24, 2018, the floodgates were opened after a gap of 10. Major relief likely for UT civic 62-yr-old cycles Leh-Manali route in 48 hrs Having suffered from body facing worst fiscal crisis heart ailment, Bhandari Tribune News Service Admn seeks MHA nod for diversion of ~125 cr to MC Ramkrishan Upadhyay WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH AF Chandigarh Got Talent: An exhibition of photography, paintings and handmade goods; Art Gallery, Allaince Francaise, Sector 36-A, from August 21 to 26; entry free APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 15, 40, 46 Panchkula: Sector 25 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 19 To help the Municipal Corporation overcome its financial crisis, the Chandigarh Administration has sought the Home Ministry’s approval for diversion of Rs 125 crore from its own earnings and savings to the civic body. The UT Finance Department wrote in this regard to the ministry on August 14. The Administration has devised a new way — reappropriation of the amount — to help the MC after its earlier demand for the additional fund was turned down by the Centre. In the letter to the ministry, the UT Finance Department says, “Please find attached herewith the proposal for reappropriation from Head of Materials and Supplies to Grants-in-Aid (General)) amounting to Rs 125 crore.” It further says, “The re-appropriation of funds as mentioned above has been processed on the UBIS portal according to the Rule 10(9)(vi) of the Delegation of Financial Powers Rules (DFPR), 2024, considering the availability of savings within the same section. You are requested to approve the same at the earliest.” Sources said the Administration managed to save a sig- nificant amount of money in the power segment after the privatisation of the power wing. It has sought approval to divert that amount to the MC for developmental and related works. The Administration has no power to divert the amount on its own, the sources added. The MC is facing the worst financial crisis. It has no money even for replacing the defunct streetlights. "I am hopeful that the MC will get the amount soon so that all developmental works, including the recarpeting of roads, are carried out,"said Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla. c m y b Chandigarh, August 19 Panchkula resident Alok Bhandari has set a new record in cycling by covering 428 km from Leh to Manali in less than 48 hours. A heart patient, Bhandari now has his name registered in the International Book of Records. A retired Punjab Government official and a fitness enthusiast, Bhandari overcame the challenges like bad weather and a difficult route to achieve the feat. “I started cycling in 2020. Having suffered from heart problems (having a stent), I started cycling after consulting a doctor and travelled from Manali to Leh in 2022. It took me five days. In the following year, I com- covers 428 km to enter record book pleted the same journey in four days and in 2024, I took three days. This time, I completed the journey of 428 km from Leh to Manali in 47 hours 32 minutes to set a record,” he said. “At 60 plus, I have always paid special attention to fitness and encourage others to do the same. I thought of completing the route in June and started practicing hard from January. I used to cycle daily and didn’t miss a single day. I ate more protein, maintained my water intake,” he added. A retired Punjab Government official, Alok Bhandari, during his record-breaking journey.