Rain toll rises with three electrocuted in Sharjah

[Dubai]

Motorists spend hours on the road as flooded streets and malfunctioning lights reduce traffic to a snarl.


Sharjah & Dubai: Four people died in freak accidents during Saturday night's deluge as traffic came to a standstill on arterial roads, police said.
The weather bureau warned of heavy rain and strong winds again on Monday and Tuesday.
In pictures: Heavy rains lash the UAE
Three people were electrocuted in Sharjah when they stepped on live wires. A 60-year-old woman died when a sign broke loose at the Indian pavilion in the Global Village and fell on her.
The rain disrupted traffic across the country and people going to Sharjah were hit badly as many roads were inundated and traffic lights malfunctioned. Scores of cars were seen left stranded on the streets. Police reported more than 170 accidents.
Early morning Dubai-bound motorists complained that the roads were unusable and many spent hours trying to get to their workplaces. The Roads and Transport Authority said traffic bound for Sharjah on Emirates Road was diverted.
Diversions
Traffic was also diverted on Emirates Road at the interchange of Dubai-Al Ain Road towards Dubai Bypass Road, and northward towards Al Khail Road and Business Bay Crossing. It was the same scene in the evening as motorists spent hours on Al Ittihad Road trying to get home.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has denied sending a circular ordering the closure of all schools.
Three electrocuted
The three died of electric shock from fallen live wires in separate incidents, when they were walking, police said. An Arab man died at Al Yarmook and two Indians in the industrial area.
The woman died from her injuries when a signboard from the Indian pavilion at the Global Village broke loose and fell on her due to gale-force winds.