Shopkeepers in the Muttrah Souq, which always bear the brunt of heavy rains, were relieved on Monday as the traditional market remained shut on Monday as Muscat Municipality's weather updates.
Most of the shops on the Muttrah Sea Road were open just for a few hours due to the weather announcement while the shops inside the souq remained fully closed throughout the day.
“We were open for a few hours but closed towards noon as rains started to pour in and we were well prepared to face any adverse situation,” said Navas Kasargode, a merchant in the souq.
As the rain progressed, water gushed through the souq towards the sea road but the shoppers either pulled down the shutters or moved the stocks to safe areas as instructed by Muscat Municipality.
“We could save the stocks, thanks to the civic body that instructed us to do so,” Abdullah al Hadhrami, who runs a herbs shop, said.
Muttrah traders inside the souq always bore the brunt of the heavy rains in the past; the last such situation occurred in October 2021 October when Cyclone Shaheen wreaked havoc in the country.
"It (Shaheen) was disastrous as the majority of our products were damaged in the storm and flash floods," said Mohammed Ameen, another shopkeeper.
The loss suffered by the Souq that houses more than 5,000 vendors and traditional tradespeople was colossal during Shaheen and they thanked the authorities for adopting effective measures against the adverse weather.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
