By AbdulSalam Muhammed

KANO  —  A torrential rain that lasted two and half hours, midweek, left the ancient city of Kano prostrate as flood  took over both public and residential buildings in the city.

The rain that started around 3:00 p.m. local time exposed the city’s ill preparedness for emergency as residents resigned to fate while it lasted.

There were reports of several car crashes in the city with reported injuries as flood took over the major streets and roundabouts  in the city.

The situation worsened the already chaotic traffic scene as major roads were brought to standstill amid humming and hooting by desperate road users.

Flood cut off the Silver Jubilee roundabout that linked the strategic Zaria road, and state road with the city centre, while the Zaria road axis of the city witnessed the worst scenes.

The entire residents of Jaoji quarters were sacked by the flood while the Zoo road axis of the city was not left out as the area recorded no fewer than eight cases of auto crash.

Most of the residents that were caught in the office were forced to break their Fast outside the comfort of their homes as the traffic jam lasted several hours.

A resident, Nalado Isa, told Vanguard that the situation was compounded by the ‘desperate behaviour’ of the road users that violated traffic rules to escape the flood.

Isa explained that  Wednesday’s rain was an eye opener for those in the position of authority to fashion a new policy that will guarantee the safety of the ancient city.

Effort by Vanguard to seek the view of the General Manager, Kano State Urban Development Agency, Malam Na’aba, on the development failed as his aide said he was outside  Kano on official duties.