Chandigarh, Sept. 1 -- With 308.5 mm rain recorded this August, the total rainfall for the city this monsoon has come to 836.6 mm as per India Meteorological Department (IMD). This is already higher than last year when 776.2 mm rain was recorded in the whole monsoon, from June upto September. As per IMD the monsoon rain is counted from the start of June upto the end of September. The normal figure for this is 845 mm and this year's tally is already close at 836.6 mm. This comes even as the IMD in its forecast for the second half of the monsoon season had said that above normal rain is likely in September. Speaking about this, IMD Chandigarh director Surender Paul said that this happened as rainfall as a whole was higher than last year, even as rain in July was 32% below normal. While only 184.4 mm rain was recorded in July this year, 308.5 mm rain was recorded in August which is 8% above the normal figure for the month which is 284.8 mm. August as a whole recorded lesser rain than last year when 351.6 mm rain was recorded. Because of the rain throughout the month, average maximum temperature at 33.1degC was lowest since 2018 when it was also 33.1degC. Average minimum temperature at 25.4degC is also the lowest since 2011 for which IMD data was readily available. Before this, it had gone down to 25.8degC in 2013. 41.3 mm rain recorded on Sunday Meanwhile 41.3 mm rain was also recorded in the city on Sunday. While a red alert was issued by the IMD, the rain started at around 8:30 am and continued uptown 2:30 pm. The sky remained cloudy and dark even after the rain stopped. Paul explained that there is a confluence between an active Western Disturbance (WD) and the monsoon system is leading to the system on Sunday which is also likely to continue on Monday, and chances of heavy rain upto 70 mm will continue in the city. An orange alert for heavy rain will continue on Monday. Orange is the second highest of the four colour warning system which asks people to be prepared. Red is the highest alert which asks people to take action. A red alert was issued in Punjab for the whole day by the IMD on Sunday and will continue on Monday. Meanwhile, chances of rain will continue on Tuesday but its intensity is likely to come down from Tuesday onwards and the rain is likely to stop from Wednesday. As of now, rain will be unlikely after this till the weekend. Because of the rain, maximum temperature fell significantly It went down from 33.7degC on Saturday to 28.1degC on Sunday, 5.5 degrees below normal. This is the lowest that it has gone the whole month. It is also lowest that the maximum temperature has gone on August since 2021 when maximum temperature fell to 26.2degC on August 21. Minimum temperature rose from 25degC on Saturday to 26.7degC on Sunday, and was 0.8 degrees above normal. In the next three days, maximum temperature will remain around 29degC while minimum temperature will remain around 25degC. Air Quality Index (AQI) on Sunday as per the AQI bulletin by Central Pollution Control Board was at 42 for the three stations. This is considered as good and is in the lowest range for air pollution. Flash floods wreak havoc in Mohali after rain Heavy rain triggered a flood-like situation in Mohali district on Sunday as seasonal rivulets Jayanti ki Rao and Patiali ki Rao swelled once again, inundating low-lying areas and villages. The worst-affected areas included Nayagaon, Kurali, Kharar, and Zirakpur, where water entered houses, shops, and agricultural fields, leaving residents grappling with massive destruction. Farmers from Jayanti Majri, Kasauli, Gurha, Karondiawal, Bhigandi, and nearby villages said their fields were completely submerged. "This year the destruction caused by flash floods is unprecedented," said Chaudhary Sham Lal Majarian, Zila Parishad member and resident of Gurha. He added, "We have been urging the administration to construct bridges on causeways and lay pipelines under rivulet passages, which overflow every monsoon, but no action has been taken so far." In Zirakpur, roads, crossings, and markets were left waterlogged, disrupting daily life. "We have now accepted that such conditions will occur every year," said Parveen Goyal, a businessman in Zirakpur. The heavy waterlogging also triggered major traffic jams on the Zirakpur-Ambala and Zirakpur-Patiala highways. Singhpura crossing and Patiala crossing witnessed the worst congestion, with commuters stuck for over an hour before traffic crawled forward at a snail's pace. Villagers build a temporary passage over Jayanti ki Rao river after the bridge collapsed Mohali: Residents of five villages near Jayanti Majri have constructed a temporary passage across the Jayanti Rao river at their own expense after the bridge was washed away by strong currents nearly a month ago. Former sarpanch of Guda village, Chaudhary Sham Lal said, that every year on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month, a large fair is held at Goga Medi in Guda, which attracts devotees from far and wide. However, since the ramp bridge collapsed due to heavy water flow, villagers have been left without any proper connectivity. "Several ministers and officials visited the site but left without taking any action. For the past month, the residents of five villages have been facing immense difficulties as this is the only route connecting them to the city and other areas for their daily needs," he said. The villagers are particularly concerned as October 1, 2025, marks the upcoming Goga Madi fair, when thousands of devotees are expected to arrive in Guda. With no official arrangements in place for connectivity, the residents pooled resources and built a makeshift road over the river to ensure access during the fair. MLA Kuljeet Singh Randhawa reviews Ghaggar River Tiwana Embankment - assures residents of full preparedness by the Administration HT Correspondent chandigarh@hindustantimes.com Dera Bassi MLA Dera Bassi, Kuljeet Singh Randhawa, on Sunday visited the Tiwana embankment of the Ghaggar river along with senior officials to review the situation. He assured residents that the local administration is fully alert and prepared to tackle any emergency. The MLA appealed to people to stay away from the riverbanks and extend cooperation with the administration for ensuring safety. He further urged residents who can provide tractors, trolleys, or essential items to come forward in support. He directed administrative and police officers to remain stationed at the embankment at all times. It was informed that poclain and JCB machines have been deployed by the government, while MGNREGA workers are filling sandbags to strengthen the embankment. Later, SRandhawa visited Lalru to meet the family of farmer Janak Raj, who unfortunately lost his life due to the rapid flow in the Jharmal river. He expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and assured them of due financial assistance from the government. He said that efforts will be made to provide employment on compassionate grounds to an eligible member of the family. Special Girdawari announced- The MLA announced that a special girdawari (crop loss assessment) will be conducted in Sarseeni, Sadhanpur, and Khajur Mandi villages, where heavy water flow damaged standing crops. He stated that the matter would be taken up with the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann for relief from the Special Relief Fund. He also directed the preparation of estimates for adding additional stone layers to vulnerable stretches of the Ghaggar embankment. The MLA emphasized that embankments across the Dera Bassi constituency will be further strengthened with stone pitching to safeguard residents and farmers from recurring flood damage. Emergency helplines DC Office: 0172-2219506, 76580-51209 Dera Bassi: 01762-283224, 01762-280095 Zirakpur: 01762-528902 Kharar: 0160-2280222...