Ara: Incessant rain accompanied by strong winds disrupted business activity and daily life across Ara in Bhojpur district on Saturday, with several localities facing power disruptions after trees were uprooted. Residents also faced difficulties picking up children from schools amid the adverse weather conditions. Traders are now hoping for an improvement in the weather by Sunday.The prolonged spell of rain kept customers away from markets, affecting businesses across sectors. “If such weather continues, we may have to sell only umbrellas and raincoats. No customer has come since morning, and it is already afternoon,” said a paan shop owner on Mahadeva Road, one of the town’s busiest commercial hubs.Pradeep Kumar, who runs a grocery store, said the disruption in power supply had added to traders’ woes. “I sell milk, curd, paneer and cold drinks. The power supply has been disrupted since last night. I’m unsure whether to place fresh orders for milk and beverages. The rain has badly affected my business,” he said.Several trees were uprooted in different parts of the town, including near Ramna Maidan and the Red Cross building, disrupting electricity supply and causing voltage fluctuations in nearby localities.Sonu, a phone and accessories retailer, said business had come to a standstill. “By this time on most days, hundreds of customers visit my shop. Today, there has been hardly any footfall because of the weather. I have never seen such a prolonged spell of rain in late Sept,” he said.The impact was felt beyond markets. An advocate at Ara civil court said many clients could not reach court because of the rain. “Usually I return home in the evening, but today I was back by early afternoon as hardly any clients turned up,” he said.A delivery worker employed by a wholesale trader said he had failed to secure a single fresh order despite working throughout the day in the rain.
