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After 15 years, Sukhna Lake floodgates opened 9 times in a season

According to officials, excess water is being released into the Ghaggar river through the Sukhna choe.

2 min readChandigarhSep 3, 2025 07:11 PM IST

Sukhna Lake floodgates opened, Sukhna Lake water level danger mark, Chandigarh Administration floodgate operation, Ghaggar river water release, Sukhna choe excess water release,

The Sukhna Lake flood gates were opened only four times in 2023, six times in 2022, and five times in 2021. (File photo)

For the first time in 15 years, the floodgates of Sukhna Lake were opened nine times in one monsoon season as the Chandigarh Administration lifted two of the three gates Wednesday after the water level rose above the danger mark of 1,163 feet following heavy rain in the catchment area.

According to officials, excess water is being released into the Ghaggar river through the Sukhna choe. They said the first gate was opened around 7.30 am, followed by the second at 8 am, both of which were lifted to three inches.

This is the ninth opening of the floodgates this season, following similar operations on September 1, August 6, 8, 15, 17, 19, 29, and 30. On September 1, one gate was shut around 3 pm, while the other remained open for nearly 21 hours before closing at 4 am the next day.

The Engineering Department has deployed staff at the lake’s regulatory end round-the-clock, with CCTV surveillance and a control room set up to coordinate with the district administrations of Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. The traffic police and local authorities were also alerted in advance of each release.

The gates were opened only four times in 2023, six times in 2022, and five times in 2021. A major flooding incident was reported in August 2020 when the opening of two gates inundated low-lying areas of Zirakpur. Before September 2018, the gates had not been operated for a decade.

Meanwhile, Chandigarh witnessed heavy rain in the past 24 hours, with the Meteorological Centre recording 63.6 mm of rainfall in the city and 71 mm at the airport till 8.30 am Wednesday. The minimum temperature in Chandigarh city was recorded at 21.6 degree Celsius, which is 3.7 degrees below normal.

The continuous rain has also led to waterlogging in several parts of the Tricity, causing traffic snarls during morning hours.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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