Why Chandigarh Doesn’t Flood After Heavy Rain While Punjab Struggles

Chandigarh: As heavy monsoon showers lash North India, Chandigarh’s natural drainage system — its network of choes (seasonal rivulets) — has once again proven crucial in keeping the city safe from flooding.

The city has five major choes, including Sukhna Choe, N-Choe, Patiala Ki Rao, and Dhanas Choe, which act as stormwater highways, channeling rainwater into the Ghaggar river system. These choes serve as the city’s safety valves; without them, low-lying areas would be submerged after every heavy downpour.

Sukhna Choe feeds into the iconic Sukhna Lake.

N-Choe carries a large portion of stormwater through the heart of the city to Mohali.

A social media video shows how these choes efficiently carry monsoon water away, preventing flooding and waterlogging in urban areas.

Public and Government Response

Netizens emphasize the importance of protecting and rejuvenating these rivulets, noting that choes are not just drains but ecological assets.

Mandip Singh Brar, Chief Secretary (in-charge), UT Chandigarh, instructed officials to continuously monitor water levels, particularly at Patiala Ki Rao, and issue timely warnings for vulnerable areas.

The police were asked to regulate traffic in waterlogged stretches, while the health department was directed to maintain adequate medicines and staff for potential patient surges from nearby states.

Government teams were also tasked with emergency response readiness and deploying machinery for quick relief operations.

Contrast With Punjab

While Chandigarh’s choe system effectively prevents flooding, Punjab faces massive floods caused by the swollen Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, along with seasonal rivulets fed by heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.