RAIN GODS SHOWER RELIEF ON LUCKNOW
Waterlogging around Shaheed Path and airport washes away LMC’s claims
LUCKNOW : Rain Gods showered relief for Lucknowites on Friday afternoon, as the city recorded 111.2 mm rain in a time span of 90 minutes. Following the rain, the temperature dipped by two notches and settled at 36.9 degrees Celsius.
LUCKNOW: Rain Gods showered relief for Lucknowites on Friday afternoon, as the city recorded 111.2 mm rain in a time span of 90 minutes.
The day temperature was 36.9 degrees Celsius, which was two notches below normal and the minimum was recorded at 28.7 degrees (two degrees above normal).
“Friday’s rain was neither pre-monsoon nor monsoon shower. It rained due to local conditions like rise in temperature. The eastern part of UP like Gorakhpur division will receive the first pre-monsoon shower around June 19-20,” said Met director JP Gupta.
The weatherman predicted partly cloudy sky for Lucknow and adjoining areas while rain/ thunder showers were likely at isolated places over the state.
Several other cities in the state received light to moderate rain. Bahraich recorded 28 mm rain, Kheri 15 mm, Fursatganj experienced 14.6 mm, Churk 12.4 mm, Allahabad 12.2 mm, Sultanpur 7.4 mm and Varanasi 1.8 mm.
The Lucknow Municipal Corporation’s (LMC) poor monsoon preparedness was exposed as traffic remained affected due to water-logging in many areas of the city.
The worst affected were Lucknow airport, Shaheed Path, VVIP road, Transport Nagar, Singar Nagar, South City, Hazratganj, Gomti Nagar and Indira Nagar.
The LMC had said that all drains in the city would be cleaned before June 15, but Friday’s rain washed away their claim before the arrival of the prime minister for Yoga Day celebrations on June 21.
Water-logging on the road leading to the airport affected normal traffic movement, but no flight was affected due to rain, said a source.
“There was heavy water-logging between 1 and 5 pm on the road leading to the entry and exit of the airport. Passengers faced difficulty reaching the terminal,” added the source.
Similar was the scene on parts of Shaheed Path, where movement of vehicles remained slow. Municipal staff drained out the accumulated water. Municipal commissioner ordered zonal officers to attend calls by residents. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath are scheduled to visit Ramabai Ambedkar Sthal in Zone 8 on June 21 for International Yoga Day, so LMC staff has to remain on high alert.” The zonal officers will have to arrange suction pumps for draining out water, he added.