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Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, has managed to avoid major waterlogging or urban flooding, even after receiving over 140 mm of rain since Sunday

While Chandigarh also closed schools due to heavy rain, it has largely avoided the widespread disruption seen in Punjab. (Image via X/@ShivrattanDhil1)
Punjab is battling one of the worst floods in the state since 1988, while neighbouring Chandigarh has remained largely unaffected.
As heavy monsoon rains continue to lash northern India, vast areas of Punjab are under water. The swollen Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, along with seasonal rivulets from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, have flooded villages across Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar districts.
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At least 29 people have died, and more than 2.5 lakh people have been affected across the state, officials said on Monday. All schools and colleges in Punjab are closed till Wednesday due to the severe weather.
Chandigarh’s Natural Safety Net
In contrast, Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, has managed to avoid major waterlogging or urban flooding, even after receiving over 140 mm of rain since Sunday.
According to a report by The Tribune, Chandigarh has a network of five major ‘choes’ — seasonal rivulets — including Sukhna Choe, N-Choe, Patiala Ki Rao, and Dhanas Choe, which channel excess rainwater into the Ghaggar river system. These choes act like stormwater highways, efficiently diverting rainwater away from populated areas.
The Sukhna Choe feeds into the iconic Sukhna Lake, while N-Choe carries a large volume of rainwater through the city into Mohali.
A viral video on social media showed how these choes swiftly carried away heavy rainwater, preventing the city from choking.
These natural water channels are often called Chandigarh’s “quiet guardians”. Without them, large parts of the city, especially low-lying areas, could flood during every heavy downpour.
While Chandigarh also closed schools due to heavy rain, it has largely avoided the widespread disruption seen in Punjab.
All schools in the Union Territory will remain shut on September 3 due to continued inclement weather, the administration announced on Tuesday.
“In view of the prevailing inclement weather conditions in the region, all schools of UT (union territory) Chandigarh shall remain closed on September 3,” the official statement said.
Schools in the city were already closed on Tuesday as a precaution.
(With inputs from agencies)
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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