Two spells of downpour brings Taj city to halt

Agra : Two spells of downpour lasting over four hours on Wednesday virtually paralysed the city as roads were cut off, and posh colonies and low-lying areas flooded. Tourists were stranded in the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort waiting for the rains to stop.

The second spell in the afternoon began with a gusty wind that uprooted many trees.

Waterlogging in many parts prevented traffic movement. The lifeline of the city MG Road was under knee-deep water at the Nagar Nigam crossing, St John's College crossing and Soor Sadan point.

After the first spell of rain, the municipal corporation employees rushed to pump out water to clear the roads, but the second spell halted the operations.

Residents of Vijay Nagar colony here complained of waterlogging and road caving in. "So far, there's no help from anywhere," said one Sudhir Gupta.

Farmers in Barauli Ahir block said the fields were overflowing.

"But rains are very useful for the ground water reserves which had depleted over the past few years," said a farmer Ravi Singh.

The Met Department had forecast heavy showers in 48 hours.

The annual quota of rain for Agra, 650 mm, has already been exceeded.