Hailstorm surprise in Salem brings respite from heat

SALEM/DHARMAPURI: Strong winds accompanied by hailstones (Alankatti mazhai) brought the temperature dipping in Salem and Dharmapuri districts on Thursday evening.
"I've never seen hailstones before," said M Kirubanandh, a Class 12 student from Chinna Tirupathy in the city. He said a few of his friends went outside along with him without knowing that they might get hurt by the force of the hailstones.
"The moment I stepped out of the house, I felt a sudden sting and then continuously about 20 to 30 hailstones hit me. It was painful. So, my friends and I immediately rushed back indoors. Until today I was not unaware that hailstones would actually hurt," he said.
He also added that despite their soreness, they thoroughly enjoyed watching hailstones cover the roads making them look like they were marble-paved.
Several motorists were caught unaware and had a difficult time maneuvering through streets. Moments after the rain began bringing down hailstones instead of raindrops, they rushed for cover to nearby shelters.
Similar scenes where witnessed in different parts of Dharmapuri district. "Hailstone showers began at 5pm and lasted for nearly an hour," said P Marimuthu, a resident from Harur in Dharmapuri district.
In many areas the region, crops especially banana plantations were damaged by the rain. "We will be able to ascertain the extent of damaged done only tomorrow," a revenue official said.
"Fully-grown banana trees, which were about to be harvested this week, were all uprooted in various places across the region. The trees and the banana fruits were damaged after the hailstone shower," said farmers from Harur taluk.
Krishnagiri district and regions in Karnataka also recorded unseasonal rain accompanied by hailstones that hindered normal life.