Morning rain wreaks havoc on Saras Mela venue

Early morning rain played a spoilsport at the PAU grounds, where the 10-day Saras Mela is underway. The showers, which began around 5.30 am and were accompanied by strong winds, created a tough situation for exhibitors, who have come from various parts of the country to display their products.

Several canopies were damaged and water seeped through the tents due to the sudden downpour. Exhibitors rushed to cover their goods, but it was not possible to save everything, they said.

Mustafa, an exhibitor dealing in handmade wooden furniture and decorative items, said the situation in the morning was quite difficult. “The carpets were soaked, making it hard to even walk. Many of our products got scattered in the windy rains, and we just prayed for the

The fair’s entrance gate collapsed after rain, raising safety concerns among visitors. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: HIMANSHU MAHAJANweather to calm down. Thankfully, by around 11 am, the sun came out and things started getting better. Being a Sunday, visitors started arriving after lunch, and the footfall improved significantly,” he said.

Another exhibitor, dealing in carpets, said many of his items were damaged due to the weather. “As soon as the rains stopped, we spread the products out to dry and visitors began thronging the venue again. We hope to recover the losses and make good sales in the coming days,” he added.

The administration made sure that exhibitors did not face much problem.