Normal life hit by heavy showers

Water, water, everywhere! Normal life was badly hit as the Kingdom experienced heavy showers yesterday. Many businesses, malls, and shops remained closed while people struggled to reach from one place to other owing to huge traffic disruption. Retailers and mall operators took the maximum brunt of the rains as footfalls remained low.

Sources said there was a minor flooding at City Centre Bahrain, Marina Mall and many malls, hospitals, and restaurants. “The rainwater leaked through the roof and there was a minor flooding inside the mall. But as of now, it is under control,” a source at the City Centre told Tribune. A source at the Marina Mall said that operations were closed for a few hours. “The extent of damage is not known.

The staff tried their best to secure stocks at various shops across the mall.” Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication stated that Bahrain today would see scattered rain showers that may become thundery and very strong gusts at times with northwesterly winds 7 to 12kt (knot) reaching 15 at times during the day.

The Housing Ministry said that as part of the continuous guidance and follow-up of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, on preparing for the rainy season, preparations were very much on to tackle emergency situations caused by rains. Rains affected none of the housing projects as special teams used suction tankers and pipes to drain water from most of the project sites, the ministry said, adding that it would continue to monitor all housing project sites throughout the week.