Rain in Tehran brings relief from nationwide drought

Tehran: Tehran s first rains of the autumn, rare so late in the year, have brought relief to inhabitants suffering from a nationwide drought that has...

Tehran: Tehran's first rains of the autumn, rare so late in the year, have brought relief to inhabitants suffering from a nationwide drought that has caused water shortages and degraded air quality.

On Wednesday, a downpour caused major traffic jams on most of Tehran's streets and a first rainfall earlier in December followed months without rain in the Iranian capital.

Iran's already arid climate has been hit by its worst drought in over 60 years, with rainfall in Tehran at low levels not seen for a century, authorities said in October.

The first autumn rains are usually expected in September.

Amir Abkari, a bus driver on a route serving Tajrish Square in northern Tehran, said he was delighted by the rain.