Ranchi: Incessant rain through Wednesday disrupted life across the city, slowing traffic, affecting school attendance and exposing persistent waterlogging problems.Several key stretches were submerged after morning showers, leading to traffic snarls and delays. At Upper Bazar near Seva Sadan Hospital, vehicles moved slowly as commuters struggled to cross the inundated stretch.“It takes just one spell of heavy rain for this stretch to get submerged. Walking through the area becomes a challenge,” said Sanjay Gupta, a trader.Traffic was also affected in Dangratoli after a tree fell on a roadside stretch amid strong winds and rain. The obstruction was later cleared, but commuters reported delays during peak hours.The weather also affected school attendance, with some parents choosing to keep younger children at home. Several residential lanes remained waterlogged, prompting families to avoid unnecessary travel.“The lane outside our colony was filled with water in the morning. We did not want to risk sending our child in such conditions,” said Neha Singh, a resident of Harmu.Office-goers reported unusually long travel times as congestion built up at multiple points across the city.“What usually takes 25 minutes took almost an hour today. Waterlogging and slow-moving traffic created bottlenecks across the city,” said Abhishek Kumar, who works at a private firm.The rain also hit business activity, with roadside vendors and small traders reporting fewer customers as people stayed indoors.“People avoid stopping during heavy rain. Sales have dropped sharply since morning,” said Manoj Mahato, a fruit vendor near Lalpur Chowk.In some localities, the showers disrupted the concluding day of Karam puja celebrations. Organisers shifted programmes indoors and made last-minute arrangements to continue the festivities.
