A number of effigies of Ravana and others, barely hours before they were to be set ablaze on the occasion of Dusshera, were soaked in the downpour witnessed in Haryana and Punjab.
Both states were lashed by strong winds, followed by rain and hail on Tuesday, the MeT office here said.
The MeT office has not ruled out the possibilities of thunderstorm on Thursday evening.
Several effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnadh stood soaking wet this morning in Chandigarh, while others just crumbled in the rain.
"Our hard work has gone in vain. Most of the effigies have all been soaked, and some have just withered," said Ali Mohammed, an effigy artisan.
The rain in Chandigarh lasted for about three hours, in intermittent spells.
The 83-feet tall Ravana effigy erected in Sector 46 of Chandigarh is the tallest in the city. The head of the demon-king's effigy here has tilted.
This morning the effigy artisans assessed the damages and calculated the measures required to put things in place before the festive celebrations started in the evening hours.
Effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnadh were reportedly damaged in rain in Punjab and Haryana.
{{/usCountry}}Effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnadh were reportedly damaged in rain in Punjab and Haryana.
{{/usCountry}}The auspicious occasion of Dusshera is celebrated by setting on fire the ten-headed effigy of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkaran and son Meghnadh to symbolise the victory of good over evil.