Agra: Thunder, lightning and rain prevented tourists from enjoying the full moon bliss at the Taj Mahal.
Many tourists demanded refund for their entrance tickets on Wednesday evening, as they felt disappointed at drizzle and cloudy ambience cast a shadow on the Taj Mahal.
The showers continued intermittently until midnight and the temperature fell by four to five degrees Celsius.
Showers were reported from Mathura, Mainpuri, Etah and Firozabad districts. Several other areas reported heavy hailstorm.
There were also reports of casualties. Lightning killed two people in Aligarh district, one in Mathura and a woman and a child in Mainpuri. In Fatehpur Sikri, a 58-year-old woman was killed as a wall collapsed on her under the impact of heavy rain and strong winds.
"The weather has taken an abrupt turn with Sharad Poornima. Woollens are out and already school-going children are reluctant to move out of their beds early in the morning," said a school teacher of St Peter's College.
Agriculture department officials said the heavy showers could damage the potato crop.
However, farmers waiting to sow seeds for the Rabi crop were happy as the dry and parched fields needed moisture badly.
"The monsoon rainfall fell short by almost 50 percent. These showers have revived hopes," a farmer said.
