HEAVY RAIN lashed Varanasi and Gorakhpur on Saturday. Varanasi witnessed the first heavy rain of the season for the entire day on Saturday. The heavy rain brought respite to people from the humid weather. Although a brief drizzle did fall on the city early this month, the denizens were still reeling under insufferable conditions. A brisk rainfall of 6.8 mili-meter and 7.7 milimeter was recorded on July 1 and July 2, respectively.
HEAVY RAIN lashed Varanasi and Gorakhpur on Saturday.
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Varanasi witnessed the first heavy rain of the season for the entire day on Saturday. The heavy rain brought respite to people from the humid weather.
Although a brief drizzle did fall on the city early this month, the denizens were still reeling under insufferable conditions. A brisk rainfall of 6.8 mili-meter and 7.7 milimeter was recorded on July 1 and July 2, respectively.
Besides the city, heavy downpour was reported from the rural areas including Araziline, Harahua, Sewapuri, Kashi Vidyapeeth, Pindara, Badagaon, Cholapur and Chiraigaon Development Blocks.
Former faculty member at Geophysics Department at Banaras Hindu University and eminent metereologist, Prof. BR Dasgupta said Saturday’s rain indicated the revival of monsoon in the region, therefore, it could continue for the next couple of days.
He added that the entire eastern Uttar Pradesh was likely to witness heavy rains in the next few days. Normal life, however, was affected adversely due to rain. In Gorakhpur, the downpour washed away many makeshift shops. Trees fell and electric poles were uprooted disrupting power supply.
Half-a-dozen houses collapsed and rainwater entered into hundreds of shops resulting in huge loss. Residents of various localities blocked traffic movement and raised slogans against civic authorities to express their anger against water logging. The rainwater entered around 200 houses in the low-lying areas. The heavy down pour that started at around 2.30 pm continued till 5.30 am.
According to the meteorological department, the city recorded 117 mm rain in three hours. About three-feet deep water was flowing on the city roads while the rain played havoc for traders in the old city.
Rainwater entered several shops in the stretch from Ghanta Ghar crossing to Reti Crossing and from Gita Press Road to Sahibganj Road. Rainwater entered an under construction basement at Reti crossing and caused heavy damage while residence of a citizen, Madan Shukla, collapsed.