Torrential rain floods Madurai roads

Madurai: Torrential rain lashed Madurai in the early hours of Thursday, leaving several roads flooded well into the day, hours after the rain had ceased. Roads around Madurai Junction, Mattuthavani vegetable market and Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple were all inundated.Commuters, shoppers and tourists struggled to move on arterial roads, slowing down traffic. West Veli Road, in front of Madurai Junction railway station, was flooded on both sides with passengers finding it impossible to access the station. People who regularly use the road said blockage in the drainage must've caused the unusual flooding.Roads were also flooded on all four Avani Moola streets surrounding Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple for hours with no effort made to drain the water. This posed a problem to several tourists and devotees visiting the temple for their summer holidays. Arun, visiting from Karnataka, said his family's plan to visit the temple early in the morning had to be cancelled. "On a more positive note, the weather has improved on account of the rain," Arun added, referring to the temperature.Flooded roads near Mattuthavani vegetable market posed a problem for shoppers in the morning. The almost ankle-deep water made it difficult for residents to enter the market, and some even slipped with their purchased vegetables. "Not only is it difficult for shoppers, but the condition of the market is also affecting us. Fewer people want to come, and the muddy condition of the roads and flooding outside make it difficult for us to take our wares in and out of the market as well," said a vendor at the market. A senior corporation official said they are taking measures to pump out stagnant water and clear roads, as well as ensure flooding to such an extent doesn't happen in the future. "We are taking measures to clear connections to stormwater drains at 40 different low-lying spots to prevent flooding," he said. He said flooding in front of the railway station was because of construction work. "Once that is completed and all the debris cleared, the flooding will cease," he added.