GUWAHATI: A powerful thunderstorm swept through the United Arab Emirates starting from Monday night and continuing up to Tuesday, causing extensive flooding in Dubai.
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The desert city received an unprecedented amount of rainfall, equivalent to what it typically receives in a year and a half, all within a few hours.
The severe weather disrupted major highways and operations at Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest airports for international travel. Meteorological reports indicate that the rainfall started late Monday, with the storm intensifying around 9 AM on Tuesday.
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By the end of the day, Dubai had accumulated more than 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rain, far surpassing its average annual rainfall of 94.7 millimeters (3.73 inches) at the international airport, as per meteorological reports.
Witnesses described scenes reminiscent of apocalyptic proportions, with roads submerged and luxury cars appearing to float through flooded streets.
The heavy showers were part of a larger storm system moving across the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf of Oman, as per reports.
Reports also suggest that the heavy rains may have been augmented by cloud seeding, a technique used to induce rainfall by introducing chemicals and particles into the atmosphere. The United Arab Emirates has employed cloud seeding since 2002 to address water security concerns.
Heavy rains were also reported in neighbouring Oman and southeastern Iran.
This extraordinary weather event shows the challenges faced by regions unaccustomed to such intense rainfall, particularly in terms of infrastructure readiness and emergency response capabilities.