Chandigarh: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall alert for Punjab and Chandigarh from July 31 to August 3, warning that several districts could receive intense showers over the next few days. Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur have been placed under a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall, while Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar (Mohali) and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar are expected to witness heavy rain.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Chandigarh, the state’s maximum temperature has dipped slightly by around 0.3 degrees Celsius and is now close to normal levels. Faridkot recorded the highest maximum temperature in Punjab at 37.8 degrees Celsius.
Meteorological Centre Director Surender Pal said the current weather pattern is being influenced by a low-pressure system over central India that is driving widespread rainfall across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. At the same time, the monsoon trough is positioned south of Punjab, while the western disturbance that had affected the state has shifted towards northern Haryana. As a result, the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall across Punjab and Chandigarh over the next 24 hours has reduced.
Despite that, intermittent light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms is expected across most parts of Punjab and Chandigarh on July 31. Border and northern districts, including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur, are likely to receive scattered showers, while Mohali, Rupnagar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar could witness isolated spells of heavy rainfall.
Water inflow into Punjab’s major reservoirs has increased due to rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, although reservoir levels remain below those recorded during the same period last year. Bhakra Dam’s water level currently stands at 1,599.08 feet, with an inflow of 39,785 cusecs and an outflow of 24,495 cusecs. The reservoir remains around 81 feet below its danger mark of 1,680 feet.
Pong Dam has recorded a water level of 1,338.15 feet, receiving an inflow of 60,288 cusecs while releasing 9,991 cusecs of water. The reservoir is approximately 52 feet below its danger level of 1,390 feet. Officials said both dams remain well within safe operating limits.
Meanwhile, humid weather conditions have continued to drive up electricity consumption across the state. Punjab’s peak power demand touched 14,550 MW on Thursday. Of this, 4,906 MW was generated within the state, while 9,687 MW was sourced from the central power pool. Grid frequency remained stable at 50.02 Hz, indicating normal system operations.
