Three killed, 58 injured in squall in Tricity
Monday, 16/09/2013
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/punjab/three-killed-58-injured-in-squall-in-tricity/86793
CHANDIGARH: A 105.5 km per hour storm which hit large parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Sunday night left at least three persons dead and 58 injured in the Tricity comprising Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.
A large number of trees were uprooted blocking roads, stalling traffic and disrupting power and water supply. Electricity and water department officials struggled late into the night to restore power and water supplies. Several vehicles were damaged by falling trees and their branches. The storm affected the 66 KV sub-station at Mohali, which in turn, caused a serious snag at the main sub-station at Kishengarh.
The blackout hit train services, city hospitals including Post Graduate Institute for Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). Power supply to the Chandigarh-Ambala stretch also remained disrupted. Zirakpur and Kharar townships were also affected. Chandigarh’s southern sectors including their commercial areas were in total darkness leading to chaos on the roads as traffic lights were also not functional.
In a freak accident, a 30-year-old Bihar migrant, Kamlesh Kamal, was crushed under a bus queue shelter near phase-VII in Mohali where he had taken shelter from the high velocity winds. The bus shelter collapsed after a huge tree was uprooted and fell on the shelter. A third year student of SD College in sector-32 in Chandigarh was killed when a wall in the college premises collapsed on top of him.
