Chandigarh, September 25: Heavy rains have wreaked havoc in North India over the past three days. While schools and colleges are shut in Punjab today, the floodgates of Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh have been opened for the first time in a decade. According to reports, the city is witnessing the wettest September in the past four years. Chandigarh has recorded 253.1 mm of rainfall this month. It is nearly 100 mm more than normal. Red alert issued in Punjab in the wake of incessant rains.

The Indian Meteorological Department has said that the presence of a strong western disturbance was the main reason for the rains. Meanwhile, the monsoon this year in Chandigarh has also been on an 8-year high with 929.6 mm of rainfall recorded till Monday morning.

On Monday, the floodgates of Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh were opened by the authorities as the water level crossed the danger mark of 1,163 feet for the first time in 10 years.

The Union territory administration said two of the six floodgates of the lake were opened up to allow the water to flow into the Sukhna Choe river. If the incessant rainfall continues, the authorities will be forced to open up the remaining floodgates as well.

An alert has been issued to neighbouring Punjab and Haryana governments, as the Sukhna Choe river passes through both the states. With the lake floodgates being opened up, the water level is expected to rise in the river.

The overflowing of Sukhna Lake has hurt the prospects of the eateries and shikara owners as the water body is a major tourist attraction. A daily income of Rs 1 lakh is generated through boating. The revenue shoots to Rs 2 lakh per day during weekends.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 25, 2018 10:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).