Finally, skies open up

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 16 

Rain has brought much-needed respite from a thick haze of dust and pollution that had enveloped the tricity for the past two days. 

According to the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC), the Air Quality Index (AQI) improved after the rain which started around 2 am and continued in spells till the evening on Saturday. On Friday, the AQI had reached the alarming level of 898 points. It came down to the normal level of 175 points on Saturday. 

The particulate matter (PM-10) has also witnessed a fall. Yesterday, it was 796 microgram (mg) per cubic metre, which has now settled at 212 mg. The count of PM 2.5 has also reduced from 178 mg to 63 mg per cubic metre. The city has witnessed 28.4-mm rainfall till 8.30 pm on Saturday. 

Met experts said the tricity would witness light to moderate showers accompanied by strong winds in next 24 hours.

The rain also brought respite from soaring mercury. On Saturday, minimum temperature was 23.5 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature dipped nine points and settled at 29.4 degrees Celsius.

Uprooted trees hit Mohali water supply

Mohali: There will be low water pressure in the morning from 4 am to 9 am in Mohali. Water supply is expected to become normal by the evening. “During the storm, several trees fell on the 11-KV lines. This led to snapping of electricity wires. On Sunday, we will be supplying water with the help of generators and it will be supplied at low pressure,” said an MC official.

Normal flight service resumes

After two days of disruption due to dusty weather, normal flight service resumed at Chandigarh International Airport on Saturday. All flight operations were normal and on time except three flights. The Chandigarh-Srinagar-Chandigarh flight was cancelled, the Chandigarh-Ahmedabad flight got delayed by 2:40 hours and the Sharjah-Delhi-Sharjah flight operated from Delhi instead of Chandigarh.