City witnesses heavy rains, hailstorm

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FE Report
Though belated the city witnessed heavy rainfall accompanied by hailstorm and gusty winds Sunday that came as a welcome relief to the city dwellers.
However, it partially disrupted normal life, temporarily halted economic activities in the capital and at least five people were reported missing in a trawler capsize in Buriganga river.
Most of the city areas plunged into darkness, as the electricity distribution system collapsed.
DESCO managing director Saleh Ahmed told a news agency that 132 KV grid lines at Mirpur had tripped leading to a colossal breakdown at three substations in the area.
Five feeder lines under Gulshan sub station also broke down following the seasonal storm.
The rainfall started from 6pm and continued untill 8:30pm. It also created water logging in different parts of the city.
Owners of the essential fax and telephone services centres, big and small shops in the capital had to close down their shutters early because of the downpour. Traffic movement in the city also remained thin during the rainfall.
Many of the CNG-run three-wheelers were seen bogged down in stagnant water on several city streets that compounded the woes of the homebound passengers. Many people took shelter under roadside bus passenger sheds, as well as inside shops, which were partially shut down due to the inclement weather.
Billboards and tree branches fell on the streets in the gusty wind temporarily impeding vehicular traffic movement in the city.
Met office sources said it recorded 24 millimeters of rainfall till 6:30pm in the city. Heavy rain was also recorded in Tangail and Mymensingh districts.
Meanwhile, at least five passengers remained missing when a trawler with 30 passengers, caught in the storm, capsized in midstream of Buriganga river.
Firebrigade sources said the trawler was some two kilometers off Zinjira ferry ghat and was caught in the storm that swept through the capital and its adjacent areas around 6pm.
Other passengers managed to swim ashore.
However, identity of the missing victims could not be known immediately.