Madurai city and suburbs witnessed thunderstorm on Monday night that threw vehicular traffic out of gear for a good part of the evening.
The cloudburst that started at around 6.30 p.m. continued to lash the city for nearly three hours. Caught unawares by the sudden downpour, accompanied by lightning, the residents on holiday shopping, were put to inconvenience.
Two-wheelers went off the road as the thick showers blinded their vision and arterial roads were flooded. Failure in effective pumping of rain water led to marooning of the sub-way at Puttuthoppu, virtually cutting off the road traffic on both sides. At least 11 feet deep water had to be pumped out under the supervision of City Engineer A. Mathuram. “Plastic waste blocked the foot-valve that led to the water stagnation during the initial hours when it rained heavily,” he added.
Traffic was restored only after 10 p.m. Inundation of roads was reported near the Periyar Bus Stand and many motorists were seen pushing their two-wheelers after their engines failed. Motorists and pedestrians also faced the brunt of sudden showers at Vasantha Nagar, TVS Nagar, Palanganatham Junction, Arapalayam, Goripalayam, Anna Nagar, K.K. Nagar, Vivekananda Nagar, Vishwanathapuram, Sellur, Chinna Chokkikulam and Nagamalai Pudukottai.
Submersion of railway track disrupted signalling system which in turn delayed the arrival of Chennai-Madurai Vaigai Superfast Express, railway sources said.
