Rains, hail storm and thunderstorms hit normal life across the Sultanate and neighbouring countries on the third day as depression gained strength on Wednesday.
One more person was killed after being struck by lightning in Mudhaibi, according to the police. “Since Sunday, three people have lost their lives. Two died in Mudhaibi and one lost his life in Rustaq,” the police said in a statement. The heavy rain caused traffic snarls, toppled electricity poles disrupting power in several areas and damaged property and many roads across the Sultanate.
The Ministry of Education said that all government schools will remain closed on Thursday except for those in Al Wusta and Dhofar after weather forecasts predicted heavy rains and flash floods on Thursday and Friday in Muscat, Musandam, Al Buraimi, Al Dhahira, North and South Batinah, Al Dakhliyah, and North and South Sharqiyah.
“We were more prepared today and left the office in the afternoon itself when the drizzles started. Many of our colleagues also stayed away as a precautionary measure,” said Mohammed al Harthy, a government employee in Muscat.
Though the day started with light drizzle in Muscat on Wednesday, heavy rains slowed traffic across Muscat governorate in the evening. Many roads that link wilayats such as Nizwa, Ibri, Ibra, Izki, Bahla, Rustaq, Mudhaibi, Dima Wattayeen, Mahdah, Sinaina and Nakhal in the north were flooded. Mountains in Samayil were sprinkled with hail stones much to the delight of shutter bugs.
Royal Oman Police had to carry out operations to Shinas to rescue a family while in another incident eight persons who were stranded in Ibri’s Wadi al Kabeer were reported to be relatively safe. Authorities rescued a man who was stranded in his car in a flowing wadi.
Heavy rains were reported in Mudhaibi and Buraimi with some of the roads declared too unsafe to travel.
Local residents of Jebel Akdhar also confirmed of heavy hailstorm on Tuesday.
Despite timely warnings, PACDA and ROP officials were peeved with the fact that people continue to ignore their messages and venture into areas perceived to be dangerous. Around 40 people who were trapped in flooded wadis across the country were rescued by teams of ROP, National Committee for Civil Defence (NCCD) Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA).
Flight operations from Muscat airport were disrupted while the Mwasalat which suspended city bus services on Tuesday resumed services on Wednesday.
The scene was no different in neighbouring UAE too with Abu Dhabi airport forced to shut down for a short period in the morning. In fact, there were reports in the social media of a portion of a roof collapsing in the same airport.
Source: OmanObserver