Widespread showers on Monday in different locations of the city resulted in a dip in mercury level substantially.
According to PWD officials, the rainfall recorded during the last 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. was 16 mm.
However, when residents woke up on Tuesday morning and drove to their work spots, they faced hardship. Reason: The roads had either been damaged or water-logging posed problems to pedestrians as many low-lying areas were inundated.
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If arterial roads were bad, narrow lanes could be described as worse since water logging on both sides of the road forced pedestrians to use the little space on the middle of the road.
The classic examples were interior pockets in Jaihindpuram, Subramaniapuram, Visuvasapuri, Mahaboobpalayam in the southern side and K. Pudur and Zambropuram market area in the northern side of the city.
The broad roads such as Tirupparankundram Road, near Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt intersection, Kalavasal to Master Mahal Kalyana Mandapam, Harveypatti (near the flyover) on the southern side and the Iyer Bungalow-Moondrumavadi-Kannanendal road and beyond Oomachikulam were not safe for motorists, especially, those on two-wheelers.
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When The Hindu team drove in the city’s markets, to name a few, the onion market on South Marret Street, the grocery market in and around Swami Sannidhi Lane near the world famous Meenakshi Temple, the stench was unbearable.
The thick slush and the piled up vegetable waste overflowing from the dumper bins were enough to spread “unknown” diseases.
Newly laid roads
Just before the recently concluded Assembly election, the Corporation laid roads at an estimated cost of Rs 26 crore covering, 104 stretches in different wards under the Special Road Fund.
Starting from Jaihindpuram, a number of roads, which were laid by approved contractors, had already been ripped off.
DMK councillor and leader in the Madurai Corporation Council, M.L. Raj, said that the party had pinpointed the bad quality of roads then and appealed to the authorities to re-lay the stretches. “Our stand is vindicated now as one rain has exposed everything. The Corporation should make payments only after the roads are re-laid properly,” he stressed.
The potholes in and around shopping areas like Netaji Road, Vengalakkadai Street, Dhalavai Agraharam, Dhanappa Mudali Street and water logging at Periyar bus stand, Simmakkal and Goripalayam (opposite American College) choked vehicular movement.
“The absence of proper filters and encroachments of channels are the main reasons for water logging,” a sanitary inspector at Madurai Corporation said.
An orthopaedic surgeon recommended motorists to take more care while riding two-wheelers as speed breakers and pot-holes, which may not be visible due to water logging, may lead to multiple injuries, even while wearing helmets.
“Always it would be better to drive slowly when it is raining and advisable to go through broad roads. Avoid narrow or new stretches as the condition of the roads may not be known. Riding in a rash manner may either lead to skidding or freak accidents,” the doctor advised.
Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Nanduri said a few days ago that the engineers would take stock of those (left-out roads) to be re-laid and get them done. He also informed that a detailed proposal had been sent to the government seeking additional funds for laying roads.
At the time of going to press, it was raining on Tuesday night is a different story.