Rains lash Ahmedabad, bring relief

AHMEDABAD: Monsoon knocked on the city doors loudly on Friday as strong winds blew trees over and cool showers relieved Amdavadis from the scorching heat.
Not ready for the bolt from the blue, two-wheeler riders found themselves slipping on wet tar and people got caught in traffic jams. City control room got 10-15 calls about trees falling, blocking roads. In Vastrapur, traffic had to be cleared after a fallen tree blocked the road.The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation control room at Tagore Hall recorded 11.5mm rains. Rains, accompanied by strong winds, also lashed parts of south Gujarat, Saurashtra, central Gujarat and north Gujarat on Friday.
People in Surat woke up to an overcast sky and it began to rain around 9am and within an hour the entire city was drenched. Trees were uprooted at several places in the city.
In Surat district, Umarpada taluka received 88mm rainfall, Bardoli 35 mm, Mandvi 64mm, Mangrol 7mm, Palsana 1mm and Surat city 12mm. Sporadic rainfall was reported in parts of Saurashtra on Friday. India Meteorological Department officials said Amreli, Dhari, Junagadh and Visavadar received rains. Junagadh flood control officials said Talala received 52mm and Manavadar 12mm rainfall inn the day. In Amreli district, Rajula received 40mm rainfall, Amreli 10mm and Bagsara 8mm.