Agra, Jan 18 (IANS): It was a night of roaring storms, hail and chilly winds in this city of monuments.
"The showers have helped us by washing all the dust from trees and shrubs. The drains which were choked are cleaner now," Ram Singh, an official in the horticulture department, said Friday.
Agriculturist Ravi Singh said the intermittent showers were expected, and could be helpful for crops but was worried about the hail.
"For the wheat the rains and low temperature are good, but for standing mustard and potato crops, there could be danger ahead, if there was more rain. Things at the moment are looking pretty good for a bumper wheat crop this rabi season," Ravi told IANS.
Reports of damage by the hailstorm Thursday night so far is limited to few areas, but the showers have been widespread in the western Uttar Pradesh districts of Agra, Mathura, Etah, Mainpuri and Firozabad.