Heavy rain lashes southern districts

Madurai: As rain lashed the city and suburbs on Thursday evening, recording an average rainfall of 39.94mm, many markets were shut down due to water stagnation on Friday.

Kallikudi received the highest rainfall of 116.4mm, followed by Idayapatti with 105mm. Tallakulam in the city received 80.5mm and Madurai airport 63mm.

As water stagnated in temporary vegetable markets functioning at Matuthavani bus stand and Amma Thiddal in the city, traders could not open in the morning. Other places in the city like the banana market were also slushy and muddy following the rains.

Madurai central vegetable market president P S Murugan said that about 1,000kg tomatoes had to be thrown away as they were drenched and spoilt in the rain without proper shelter. “We sold onions and other vegetables at a throwaway price, as stocks that arrived when it was raining got drenched,” he said.

Many of the city roads, including the Masi Streets around the temple were slushy and muddy throughout the day due to the rains.

Meanwhile, in Sivaganga, the excavation work in Keeladi which began nearly 47 days after the lockdown had to be stalled as Thirupuvanam recorded a rainfall of 108.4mm on Friday. Work resumed on March 24, but the rain resulted in most of the trenches getting filled with water.