Bridges connecting Chandigarh with Panchkula to remain off-limits for 2-4 days

Chandigarh: Madhya Marg, the sole lifeline for Chandigarh-Panchkula connectivity following the flooding of all the causeways (bridges) on Wednesday, will have to bear the full brunt of intercity traffic for the next 2 to 4 days till the causeways could be made operational again, officials on Thursday said.

Four major causeways — Kishangarh, Bapudham, Industrial Area Phase-I, and Makhanmajra — were shut on Wednesday after the Sukhna Choe (rivulet) overflowed, flooding these key routes. If dry weather holds, authorities estimate a minimum of two to four days before they can reopen. However, any fresh rainfall or surge in the Choe's water level could delay the reopening further, officials said.

These causeways serve as vital connectors between Chandigarh and adjoining areas like Panchkula and Manimajra. With their closure, traffic has been rerouted through Madhya Marg, which, like Wednesday, saw heavy congestion throughout Thursday as vehicles diverted from the flooded routes.

On Thursday, teams from the engineering wing of the Chandigarh administration and municipal corporation inspected the damage on the causeways. The Kishangarh causeway suffered structural damage, requiring concrete repairs. The other three—Bapudham, Industrial Area Phase One, and Makhanmajra — escaped major concrete damage but lost their iron railings. Thick layers of mud and silt have coated all four causeways, posing a serious risk for commuters. Manpower has been deployed to clear the debris.

"Even after cleaning, the slippery nature of the silt makes these causeways risky. They need at least a day or two to dry completely before traffic can safely resume," said an official from the engineering department. Workers are cleaning both the surface and the choe beds beneath the causeways, where waste and debris have piled up. Restoration also includes reinstalling railings and ensuring safety measures are in place. Safety gear has been issued to all personnel involved in the cleanup.

The engineering department is working in coordination with the police, who are enforcing strict access control. Police stations in the affected areas are monitoring the causeways round the clock to prevent entry of vehicles or pedestrians.

Box: 30 trees found floating in choe

Officials have discovered around 30 large trees lodged along the causeways, carried in by the choe's powerful current. "These trees, with deep roots and massive trunks, are being manually removed using cutters and heavy machinery. It's a labor-intensive task," said an official.