A sudden spell of heavy rain caught Chandigarh residents off guard on Saturday, with many people stepping out without umbrellas as the showers intensified within minutes, bringing relief from the prevailing heat and humidity.The rain took many residents by surprise as there had been little expectation of such an intense spell. Several commuters were forced to take shelter as water poured down heavily across parts of the city.”Nobody had an umbrella today as no one thought it would rain. I wanted to go till the car, but I could not move a step as it was pouring so badly,” said Puneet, an employee who was caught in the rain without an umbrella.The sudden showers brought much-needed respite from the heat, although the heavy downpour also caused inconvenience to commuters and pedestrians.Chandigarh had witnessed another intense spell of rainfall two days ago, when heavy showers led to widespread waterlogging and flooding in several parts of the city.Chandigarh Traffic Police Urge CautionThe Chandigarh Traffic Police Have issued a road-safety advisory for motorists following the sudden spell of rain in the city. Commuters have been urged to drive slowly and cautiously, avoid splashing water on pedestrians and other vehicles, and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. The police advised drivers to exercise extra caution as water splashes can reduce visibility by covering windscreens with muddy water and may also increase the risk of collisions on wet roads.#TrafficAdvisory:- 🌧️🌧️🌧️The general public is being advised1. to drive their vehicle slowly during #rain,2. avoid water splashing,3. keep distance from the front vehicle to avoid muddy water on the front screen & collision, pic.twitter.com/gJPVlTv6rX— Chandigarh Traffic Police (@trafficchd) August 22, 2026IMD ForecastThe latest spell comes amid active monsoon conditions over northwest India. The India Meteorological Department has forecast further rain and thunderstorms at isolated places in the region.Delhi, too, received early morning showers on Saturday, providing relief from hot and humid conditions.According to the IMD, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are likely at isolated places in Delhi, with temperatures expected to remain between 25°C and 36°C. No severe red or orange warning is currently in effect for the national capital, although intermittent wet spells and high humidity are likely to continue.Monsoon showers also lashed parts of Haryana’s Jhajjar district. The IMD has forecast partly cloudy skies with the possibility of light rain or thunderstorms in the district until August 24.Heavy rain across several statesThe monsoon remains active across several parts of the country, with heavy rainfall reported in Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The IMD has issued colour-coded alerts for several districts, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and associated risks.In Uttarakhand’s Garhwal division, continuous rainfall has disrupted normal life, prompting authorities to remain on alert as water levels in major rivers continue to rise.Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop said several disaster-related incidents had been reported during the ongoing monsoon season and urged people to remain cautious.”We are experiencing heavy monsoon rains. Since this is the disaster-prone monsoon season, various incidents are occurring, and water levels in all major rivers have risen significantly,” Commissioner Swaroop told ANI.In Himachal Pradesh, persistent heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions have also disrupted normal life. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, 166 roads, including National Highway-003, were blocked, while 130 power transformers and 222 water supply schemes remained affected.Mandi was the worst-affected district in terms of road connectivity, with 84 roads blocked.In Odisha, authorities continued to monitor flood-affected areas amid forecasts of further heavy rainfall. According to IMD reports, 429 villages across 52 blocks had been affected by floodwater as of August 15, while 79 rescue teams were deployed. The Central Water Commission has also warned of flash-flood risks in parts of the state.For Chandigarh residents, however, Saturday’s sudden downpour offered a welcome break from the heat—though for those caught outdoors without umbrellas, the relief came with plenty of inconvenience.