Traders, especially roadside vendors and cracker retailers, heaved a sigh of relief as there was a let up in the rain in the city on Monday.
The intermittent and widespread showers over the past couple of days had come as a dampener for traders ahead of the Deepavali festival. The festival trade usually reaches a feverish pace in the city on the last few days leading up to Deepavali.
Though the city woke up to moderate overnight showers, there was a let up in the rain for most part of the day. The district administration had, however, declared holiday for schools in the district as a precautionary measure, giving students an extended holiday ahead of the festival.
“We were fortunate that the rain has abated. Otherwise my investment would have gone waste. I hope people will venture out to make their festival purchase today,” said Rahim, a roadside vendor busy selling readymade garments in the city.
Farmers on the other hand still remained expectant of a good monsoon as the rain had been too scattered and too little so far in the district.
“The rain has not been heavy. Wells still remain dry in the rain-fed areas. We are hoping for a bountiful northeast monsoon, which has just begun,” said P.Ayyakannu, State vice president, Bharathiya Kisan Sangam.
With the Chennai meteorological office indicating possibility of heavy rain for the next couple of days in the State, farmers are hoping that the prediction would come good.
The maximum rainfall of 30.70 mm was recorded in Lalgudi during the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Monday.
The following is the chief amount of rainfall recorded in other parts of the district during the same period (in mm):
Pullampadi 28.60; Kallakudi 26.60; Thenparanadu 20; Samayapuram 18; Tiruchi Town 16.20; Tiruchi Airport 15.20; Vathalai Anicut 16; Musiri, Thuvakudi and Pulivalam 14 each; Tiruchi Junction 13.60; Nandhiyar Head 12.20; Navalur Kottapattu 12.10, Sirukudi 12 and Golden Rock 10.80.