After a long, hot day, several of the city’s residents going home after work, were greeted by a sudden spell of rain on Monday evening. Sharp showers lasted for more than half an hour, catching several people unawares and spoiling outdoor plans of many.
The showers, accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds, lashed several parts of the city and its fringes, including southern suburbs. Many people were stranded at bus stops and railway stations waiting for the rain to subside. Pavement dwellers also found it difficult as they were forced to seek shelter.While some managed to cover themselves with plastic sheets, others scurried to shops nearby.
“I didn’t take an umbrella as it was sunny in the morning. Around 5.30 p.m., it started pouring heavily and I was drenched even before I reached the nearest bus stop,” said R. Aparna who works in Nungambakkam.
Several shoppers in T. Nagar and Purasawalkam could not step out of the shops after finishing their buying. Security personnel of some big showrooms used umbrellas to escort customers to their parking spaces or into the showroom.
While the showers brought cheers among residents, it meant dull sales for some shopkeepers as people choose to remain indoors.
In Tambaram, heavy rains lashed down for over an hour from 6 p.m. Traffic came to a standstill on arterial roads along Grand Southern Trunk Road and Velachery Main Road. The Medavakkam intersection became a traffic gridlock as stagnant water and slush hindered traffic. As a precautionary measure, power supply was severed.
A maximum temperature of 36.6 degree Celsius was recorded, which is two degrees above average for the month. Several automatic rain gauges in and around the city recorded considerable rainfall. Officials of the meteorological department said convective activity, occurring after a period of intense heat and soaring temperature, resulted in the rainfall. The early onset of the sea breeze also contributed to it. The department forecasts rain or thundershower in some areas until Wednesday.
