Suddenly raining clouds changed the mood of the weather, at some places it became pleasant and at some places the roads became ponds.

In many parts of the country, the weather has suddenly taken a turn and torrential rain accompanied by loud thunder has given great relief to the people from the scorching heat and humidity. However, while on one hand this unseasonal rain resulted in a drop in temperature and the weather became pleasant, on the other hand it also exposed the mismanagement and waterlogging in urban areas. Due to overflowing water on the roads of many major cities, vehicles were seen floating in water and people living in low-lying areas had to face a lot of problems. Office goers and the general public had to face a lot of trouble due to traffic jams, power cuts and water logging at many places. According to the Meteorological Department, due to western disturbance and local weather changes, moderate to heavy rains with strong winds are expected to continue in many states in the coming 24 to 48 hours.

The morning started with normal sunshine and humidity, but by afternoon suddenly dense dark clouds covered the sky and it started raining heavily with cold winds. Due to the rain, there was a sudden drop of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius in the maximum temperature, which brought cheer to the faces of the citizens who were suffering from the heat for a long time. People enjoyed the changed weather in parks and picnic spots. From the farmers’ point of view, this rain is considered very beneficial for the crops, especially in those areas where there was a shortage of irrigation water. The evening view became very beautiful due to increase in humidity in the air and cold winds, however, there is a possibility of minor damage to crops in some rural areas due to the storm.

The other side of the coin of pleasant weather was waterlogging and breakdown of the traffic system. Just two hours of heavy rain deflated the claims of the Municipal Corporation and the local administration about the drainage system. Major intersections, underpasses and residential colonies of the city were flooded by two to three feet of water. Many two-wheelers and four-wheelers got stuck in the water, causing kilometer-long massive traffic jams on the roads. In many areas, dirty water from drains and sewers overflowed and entered people’s homes and shops, causing losses estimated at lakhs of rupees. Local residents have expressed their displeasure and have seriously accused the administration of not cleaning the drains on time.

It can be seen in picture 1 how the dense dark clouds in the sky darkened the day. In pictures 2 and 3, the speed of vehicles is seen stopping on the roads amidst strong winds and lightning. In picture 4, people are seen pushing their vehicles amidst knee-deep water on the main VIP road of the city. Pictures 5 and 6 capture the pond-like scene of an underpass formed after heavy rains, where a bus is stuck in the water. In pictures 7 and 8, local children and youth are seen enjoying the rain and enjoying tea and pakodas in the pleasant weather. In pictures 9 and 10, policemen and municipal corporation employees are seen trying to remove water from the roads and smooth the traffic with the help of cranes and pumps.