Storm Dampens Basant Panchami Celebrations in Mohali
The festive spirit of Basant Panchami, typically celebrated with vibrant kites soaring in the sky, was severely disrupted as a powerful storm swept through Mohali. The weather department's forecast proved accurate, with the city experiencing a sudden shift from a sunny day to intense rain and strong winds late at night. Continuous rainfall starting around 3–4 am, followed by a fierce storm, led to widespread damage across various sectors.
Widespread Damage and Power Disruptions
In Sector 60 (Phase 7), a massive tree outside house no. 2869 was uprooted due to the intense winds, collapsing onto four electricity poles that supplied power to houses from 2867 to 2877. This caused a major disruption in electricity supply, with a newly purchased car parked outside house no. 2872 severely damaged after an electricity pole fell on it. With three power poles collapsing, traffic came to a standstill on several roads, affecting areas from house no. 2960 up to line 29 and multiple adjoining lanes.
Professor Balwinder Singh, a resident of house no. 2870 (Phase 7), highlighted negligence, stating, "We had formally informed the Municipal Corporation's pruning team that this tree had become dangerous and hollow from inside, but no one paid heed. My son narrowly escaped being trapped under this tree." He added that complaints were made to Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal and Mayor Amarjit Singh 'Jeeti' Sidhu, leading to the arrival of electricity staff and tree-cutting teams only after 3–4 pm.
Additional Incidents and Civic Criticism
Similar incidents were reported across Mohali:
- A large fallen tree disrupted traffic on the main road of Sector 62 (Phase 8), from YPS to Sohana.
- Several trees collapsed near the Fire Brigade office in Sector 57 (Phase 1) and close to the police station.
- A heavy tree fell on a house near the canal at house no. 1660, Sector 61 (Phase 7), though the homeowners escaped unhurt.
- At HL-429, an old door blown away by strong winds got entangled in overhead power lines, posing a serious accident risk.
Sector 61 (Phase 7) councillor Anuradha Anand expressed frustration, saying, "The electricity department was called multiple times but contact was lost after one answer. Power was restored in some parts after 5 pm, but areas with collapsed poles remain without electricity." According to official information, the electricity department shut down power citywide as a safety measure after another tree fell due to the storm.
Former councillor Parmjit Singh Kahlon criticised the civic administration, noting, "Mohali has a high-end tree-cutting machine worth crores, but it's never used. Small machines sent for tall trees are ineffective, and common people pay the price of this negligence." Councillor Jaspreet Singh Gill added that electricity department officials were not answering calls, causing distress among residents and councillors.
Extended Impact and Official Response
Power outages were reported beyond Phase 7 and Phase 8, affecting sectors 70, 71, 79, the Industrial Area, and other localities. In Sector 71, a tree fell directly onto a parked car in the HIG housing area. Social worker Pradeep Soni emphasised the urgent need for tree pruning, as residents now fear water shortages due to prolonged power outages affecting drinking water motors and booster pumps.
PSPCL executive engineer Amandeep Singh provided an update, stating, "Strong winds caused electricity poles to collapse at multiple locations, including Sector 54, Sector 60 C, Sector 61, Sector 71, and others. Trees have fallen onto power lines, causing extensive damage. Our teams are working round the clock, with repairs taking time where poles need replacement, but we aim to restore maximum power within 24 hours."
Traffic Disruption and Weather Alert
Traffic movement across Mohali was badly affected as trees and large branches fell on roads at multiple locations, with storm winds blowing at 50–60 km per hour. Municipal workers were seen clearing debris to restore normalcy.
The Punjab State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the Meteorological Department issued a fresh alert, warning that over the next 24 hours, Mohali and adjoining areas may witness thunderstorms with lightning, hailstorms, strong winds, and heavy rainfall.
