OFF TO SCHOOL: A boy carries his sister to school in One Town in Vijayawada on Tuesday.

VIJAYAWADA: Denizens will long remember Tuesday morning for the genuine experience of the monsoon was felt as the skies opened up. They woke up to a cloudy morning with incessant showers for a few hours, bringing some relief from a `second summer' being experienced by the city. Schoolchildren, college and office-goers took refuge in their raincoats and umbrellas.

Though the southwest monsoon entered the State as early as June, due to weak current and its subsequent movement towards the north, rain remained elusive.

However, the observation from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is not that encouraging as the real monsoon is yet to set in.

"The monsoon is yet to gain momentum in the State. The rainfall in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema was due to formation in dense clouds close to the Bay of Bengal. Coastal Andhra would witness scattered rainfall in the next two or three days," said IMD Dr. Satya Kumar from Hyderabad.

"The trough laying off the coast is yet to turn active. That is why we are yet to witness the full fury of monsoon," he explained. The morning rain enhanced the woes of motorists, as waterlogged roads made driving difficult.

Show must go on

However, the rain had no effect on the ongoing Gemini Circus at Swaraj Maidan, as the management is equipped with a waterproof tent. "There is absolutely no problem, even if there is a heavy downpour. We have quality waterproof tent covering the arena and the galleries ," said Ajay Shankar of Gemini Circus.

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