Heavy rain lashes Chandigarh, more showers expected

CHANDIGARH - Overcast conditions prevailed in this union territory and some parts of Punjab Wednesday after heavy showers here. Met officials have predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region during the day.

Chandigarh has recorded 122.1 mm rainfall since 8.30 a.m. Tuesday and most of it was during the wee hours Wednesday, the officials said.

“This time we had above average monsoon and so far our department has recorded around 1,068.2 mm of rainfall in Chandigarh,” meteorological centre director Surender Paul told IANS.

“We are expecting heavy showers in Chandigarh and various parts of Punjab in the coming days,” he said.

“Currently, the maximum temperature in the union territory is hovering between 32 and 35 degrees Celsius. The rainfall could also bring down the mercury, especially during the night,” he added.

Prediction of rains in the coming days has also cast a shadow over the prospects of the three-day warm-up match between Australia and the President’s XI team at the cricket stadium in Sector 16 from Sep 25.

The Australian cricket team reached Chandigarh Monday to play this match and the first Test match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in neighbouring Mohali town from Oct 1.

The team is also expected to do practice at the Sector 16 stadium Wednesday. However, the ground and pitch was covered as drizzle was still on.

The players reached the stadium and preferred to stretch their muscles in the stadium’s gym.