The First Rain of Monsoon
Monsoons were on time this year. They reached Delhi at the end of June. One day suddenly the sky became overcast. It was very hot and sultry. Heavy, dark clouds full of rain rolled majestically across the sky. Then with any preamble heavy drops began to fall on the earth. The raindrops felt cool on the hot skin. Gradually the tempo of the wind started to build up. After half an hour the gentle wind had changed into violent blasts. The trees and plants started swaying with the power of the wind. Meanwhile, the slight drizzle of the rain had transformed itself into a heavy downpour. The roads became a vast expanse of water. The traffic on the roads came to a standstill. No one could see anything because of the heavy curtain of rain. The sewers and drains began to overflow. They were unable to cope up with the sudden lashings of rain. People tried to find shelters under the trees and verandas. Soon the whole city appeared to be swimming in a big lake of water. D.E.S.U. cut the power supply and the whole Delhi plunged into darkness. This was done to avoid deaths and fires due to electrocution and short-circuiting of electrical wires. Many cars and scooters could be seen submerged in water. The breaking of the monsoon over Delhi had brought with it a nightmare.
