Rain bogs down traffic, causes 704 accidents

Vehicle breakdowns and traffic snarls were the order of the day on Wednesday as motorists struggled to negotiate waterlogged road curves and bends across the country.

Persistent rain since Tuesday evening has caused 704 accidents in Dubai — some minor ones, and forced the Global Village to close on Wednesday. Vehicle breakdowns and traffic snarls were the order of the day on Wednesday as motorists struggled to negotiate waterlogged road curves and bends across the country.

The police have once again urged motorists to drive carefully on the wet roads till the unstable weather, which the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) said, would clear by tomorrow.

The Dubai Police received 5,722 calls for help on Tuesday and from 9am to 1pm on Wednesday and the Abu Dhabi Police 3,196 calls.

Brigadier Mohammed Omer Al Shamsi, Director of the Command and Control Room of the Dubai Police, said the traffic accidents resulted in severe, moderate and minor injuries.

Colonel Sultan Al Khayal, head of the Awareness Department of the Sharjah Police, confirmed that there were no fatal accidents in the emirate on Wednesday.

The police have intensified patrolling on all roads to ensure smooth traffic and safety of motorists. Special police patrols have been deployed near schools to ensure students reach schools and are back home safely.

An NCMS bulletin said: “On Thursday, unstable weather will continue with partly cloudy to cloudy skies and scattered rain, especially over northern and eastern areas. Fresh winds blowing dust and sand will reduce horizontal visibility.”

Temperatures dipped on Wednesday, with the minimum dropping to nine degree Celsius in the internal regions.

news@khaleejtimes.com