Agra, Sep 26 (IANS): Heavy showers lashed Agra for close to four hours early Thursday, paralysing traffic movement and flooding most new colonies. Many schools have declared the rainy day a holiday as children could not move out of their houses.

"Just when many of us thought that the monsoon season was over, it came back in full fury, raining cats and dogs after mid-night," said Vijay Nagar colony resident Sudheir Gupta.

In Awas Vikas colony, the ICU of a nursing home was under four feet of water, forcing patients to scamper for safety in the dark, according to Mukesh Paliwal.

Vishal Sharma said, "It has been raining hard since night... no power in Jawaharpuram and connected areas...Albatiya, Bodla waterlogged."

People were heard saying, "so much water in such short time, pahli baar."

"It's freak weather. Whole Shastripuram is flooded. Movement is so difficult," activist Shravan Kumar Singh told IANS over phone.

The streets are under water. "The whole Yamuna Kinara road is blocked. MG Road is under water at several places. The sky is overcast and we expect more rains," said Vishal, a photographer, near St. John's College crossing.

Farmer of Barauli Aheer block Ravi Singh welcomed the rain. "We are in for a bumper crop, very timely and beneficial rains for the standing Kharif and good foundation for the Rabi. The ponds are all filled up. Water is logged in the fields right now but will dry up soon."

"This undoubtedly was the heaviest downpour this season within a few hours. For a moment, we thought it was some kind of a cloud burst when it thundered," said home-maker Padmini.