Drenched and stranded: First monsoon rain paralyses Mohali, Kharar and Zirakpur

The temporary tractor-mounted pumps deployed by the Mohali Municipal Corporation either failed to start or proved ineffective where they did work.

Alarmingly, just 30 minutes of rain triggered this chaos in a city that claims to be modern and well-planned. With heavier downpours still to come, residents are worried. To make matters worse, officials of the Mohali Municipal Corporation were unreachable, with their phones switched off when residents needed help the most.

Phase 4: Homes flooded, pumps fail

In Phase 4, a brief shower was enough to flood homes and damage household belongings, leaving residents anxious and sleepless. Area councillor Rupinder Kaur Reena said, “Pumps were promised, but when the need arose, they were of no use. This happens here every single year.”

The municipal body was also accused of reusing outdated and inefficient pumping systems. Tenders for drain and sewer cleaning were floated just days before the monsoon, leaving several localities ill-prepared.

Phase 5 and Sector 71: Several homes affected

Baljeet Kaur, municipal councillor from Phase 5, said rainwater entered multiple homes. “Had the rainfall continued a little longer, the water could have caused much more damage,” she warned.

Senior Deputy Mayor Amrik Singh Somal added that roads in Sector 71 were knee-deep in water, and residents reported water entering their homes.

Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi confirmed that Phase 3B2 also witnessed flooding. “We had to call the fire brigade to pump out the water and prevent further damage,” he said.

Phase 11: Overflowing sewers, rising risk

In Phase 11, homes were again flooded, with residents forced to build makeshift barriers. Many said water routinely backs up through bathrooms and drains. “A little more rainfall could have caused major losses,” they said.

Adding to the problem was the overflow of Chandigarh’s sewer line near the Phase 11 temple. Former councillor Sukhwinder Singh Barnala said, “The Chandigarh Administration knows about this issue but has done nothing. During the monsoon, residents suffer twice — once from local flooding and again from Chandigarh’s overflowing sewers. This is a threat to public health, and both administrations are responsible.”

Talking about this, Mohali Municipal Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh said that he has come to know that pumps did not work in many places. He would take the mayor and other officials along with a team and inspect those places again tomorrow. “Wherever there are shortcomings, efforts will be made to resolve them,” he said.

Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh said the government had issued clear instructions to prevent a repeat of past monsoon failures. “If there are any shortcomings, a full investigation will be conducted regarding the tractor pumps and road and drain cleaning,” he said.

Zirakpur: Patiala Chowk turns into a pond again

Zirakpur’s Patiala Chowk was submerged once again after heavy rain. Vehicles stalled and pedestrians were forced to wade through knee-deep water. Local shopkeeper Rajbir Singh said, “This happens every year. There’s no proper drainage and the municipal council never learns.”

Airport Road and Shiwalik City: Rapid growth, poor drainage

From Sunny Enclave to Airport Road — a fast-growing residential and commercial belt — waterlogging has become a routine problem.

Despite the mushrooming of buildings, drainage infrastructure remains neglected. Even moderate rainfall is enough to flood the streets.
In Shiwalik City, Kharar, roads turned into rivers. Resident Paraminder Kaur said, “We pay taxes, but live like the underprivileged. Children miss school, and elders and kids are constantly at risk of slipping and getting hurt.”

Citizens demand urgent action

Residents across Mohali, Kharar, Zirakpur, and Airport Road are demanding immediate action from municipal authorities. Their demands include:

• A modern and efficient drainage system
• Timely and pre-monsoon cleaning of drains and sewers
• A dedicated monsoon emergency response plan

With the monsoon having only just begun, the first shower has already tested public patience. If the authorities continue to delay action, the situation will only worsen with the next spell of rain.