Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

City drenched in summer rain

Staff Reporter

32 mm of rainfall recorded in the city, 6.9 mm at airport

HOP, STEP AND JUMP: A pedestrian caught unawares by the sudden downpour in the city on Friday runs for cover. Photo: S. Gopakumar

Thiruvananthapuram: The first summer shower of the year lashed the city on Friday noon, catching citizens unaware and bringing respite from the sweltering heat.

Most parts of the city were drenched by the downpour, which lasted for almost an hour. Lightning streaks crisscrossed the overcast sky and loud thunderclaps saw people scampering for cover.

Traffic disrupted

Traffic was held up at three places as the heavy gust of wind accompanying the rain uprooted trees. No one was injured. The Fire and Rescue Service used a chain saw to cut a tree that fell across the road in front of the Press Club.

Power lines snap

Three coconut trees inside a compound at Pippinmoodu came crashing down on to power lines. Another tree collapsed on to an electric line in the Police Training College building at Thycaud, resulting in a short circuit.

Construction sites all over the city were flooded in a matter of minutes and labourers had to halt work.

Low-lying areas were briefly inundated before the rainwater drained off.

Weatherman says

MET centre director K. Santhosh said Friday's downpour was a typical summer shower triggered by increased humidity and the shifting wind pattern.

"During the summer months when the sun moves closer to the equator, the atmospheric conditions are conducive to the development of huge cumulo nimbus clouds.

"The rain is often accompanied by lightning and thunder as well as high-velocity winds reaching up to 45 km per hour," he explained.

The city recorded a rainfall of 32 mm while the airport registered 6.9 mm.

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