Torrential rain lashes Madurai for second day

Madurai: Torrential rain for the second consecutive day came as a respite to Madurai city which is getting scorched under intense summer skies. The city and the district have received 303.4mm of rainfall with an average of 13.8mm by Monday morning. The rain lasted for more than an hour on Sunday evening. Madurai North received the highest rainfall of 38.8mm followed by Tallakulam at 37mm while Madurai Airport recorded 7mm and Viraganur 3mm. In the district, Periyapatti, Elumalai and Usilampatti recorded 32.4mm, 29.2mm and 20.2mm of rainfall respectively. Though the evening rains brought some respite, the temperature soared again during the day. However, the dark clouds started hovering again on Monday evening and it started raining in the western part of the city. The rain lasted for more than an hour in many parts of the region while it started raining in other parts of the city later. Power supply was shut down in these areas as a precautionary measure. “The summer rains are bringing much-needed relief to the city. The daytime temperature is sweltering,” said P Ganesh, a resident. Meanwhile, Indian Meteorological Centre, Chennai warned of thunderstorms and lightning with gusty wind at isolated places of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Light to moderate rain at a few places with thunderstorms and lightning likely to occur at isolated places of Tamil Nadu as well.