Jalandhar: Heavy rain and hailstorms caused the daytime temperature to drop by 7°C.

Jalandhar: Heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning since late yesterday evening brought down the maximum temperature by seven degrees Celsius from 21 degrees Celsius. The rains were also accompanied by cold winds. Hailstorm was also reported from some surrounding areas, including Dhilwan and Sultanpur Lodhi. Despite claims of improved drainage, waterlogging returned. Moderate to heavy rainfall lashed the area from last night until this afternoon, inundating several areas, including the posh Model Town, Urban Estate, and New Jawahar Nagar. Entering shops became so difficult that shopkeepers had to place concrete slabs for customers. The entrances of the famous Flower Point and Six 96 Baker Cafe were heavily waterlogged, and their staff had to stand outside to take orders and make deliveries.
The road in front of the gurdwara in Model Town and at Mata Rani Chowk remained submerged until evening, resulting in reduced traffic. Rajiv Duggal, president of the Model Market Association, said, “Shopkeepers in the market were worried. During the last rainy season, showrooms here suffered losses worth crores of rupees as rainwater entered the basements. We were told that the drainage lines had been cleaned and there would be no more waterlogging, but the situation was back again.” Commuters on the road from Ambedkar Chowk to Kapurthala Chowk also faced difficulties as the road has not been relaid after the surface water pipeline was laid.
Commuters face hardship on muddy, waterlogged roads
Shefali Kapoor, a resident of Adarsh ​​Nagar, said, “Driving on the muddy, uneven, and waterlogged road was very risky. MC officials need to expedite the work.” Commuters going to the District Administrative Complex also faced problems. The road outside the complex and the entrance area inside were submerged in a foot of water, making it accessible only to SUVs. Attendance at government offices was also low. School children and teachers were the most affected, as they had to brave heavy rain and cold weather to reach the campus. The celebrations for Basant Panchami and Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti were also dampened, as kite flying and other outdoor activities could not take place.