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Ranchi: Three passengers travelling in an auto rickshaw had a miraculous escape when one of them noticed a tree falling on their vehicle as heavy rain uprooted trees and disrupted traffic in many parts of the state capital since Friday morning.
Officials of local Met office said the city received around 25.6mm of rain from 8am to 5.30pm.
"The city will continue to receive good rainfall and there will be strong wind in the coming days," an official said. The worst-hit locality of the city was Doranda and Hinoo. However there was no casualty.
Ajay Kumar, a resident of Hinoo, said around six trees were uprooted in the area because of strong wind and rain. "A truck driver lost control and rammed into a tree uprooting it. The vehicle also damaged the tree," said Kumar.
Kumar, who was in a nearby bus stand when the tree fell on the auto rickshaw, said the vehicle had just stopped to pick up passengers when the accident took place.
"One of the passengers, who had to alight there, noticed that the tree was falling on the vehicle and raised the alarm. Two passengers along with the driver quickly moved out of the auto," he added. Clogged drains that overflowed on roads worsened the situation.
Sources in Doranda police station said they had to face tough time in clearing the road to ensure traffic movement. "State revenue and land reforms minister Mathura Prasad Mahato also got stuck in the traffic jam for a while," said police.
Since most drains are clogged and civic workers have gone on a strike, some of the traders installed a temporary structure over the drain so that customers do not have to wade through water to reach their shops.
