Dubai: Students across the UAE went back to school on Thursday as parts of the country carried out a major clean-up operation after heavy rains.
A massive downpour affected the northern emirates and Abu Dhabi on Wednesday morning, causing a number of public and private schools to close for the day.
The heavy winds also caused damage to shops and vehicles, after strong winds forced the rooftop of two shops to collapse on school buses that were parked nearby.
However, roads seemed back to normal the next morning as scores of school buses and commuters resumed their daily grind, ultimately causing major traffic jams from Sharjah to Dubai, especially on Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road, industrial areas and Al Ittihad Road.
Due to a number of traffic accidents reported on Thursday morning, which caused traffic delays on Ras Al Khor Road near Dubai Design District, in addition to Al Khail Road and Shaikh Zayed Road near the Safa Park exit.
Motorists near the areas of Al Barsha, Jumeirah Village Circle and Dubai Silicon Oasis were also stuck in snail-paced traffic.
In response to the backlog of traffic, Dubai Police issued a warning to motorists, cautioning them to adhere to the legal speed limit at all times and to refrain from speeding.
Motorists were also advised to leave for work early on Thursday as traffic jams are expected to clog all major roads in Dubai as residents get ready to enjoy the weekend.
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority also took to their social media accounts, urging driving to proceed with caution on the roads as puddles and water logging may be present in some areas.
