Ranchi, Sep 22 (UNI) Life was affected today in capital Ranchi and other cities of Jharkhand following heavy rains which began yesterday.

People in the capital and Bokaro, Giridih, Dumka and other districts may not get respite from the downpour as the MET department forecast heavy showers in and around the state capital for the next 24 hours.

Senior scientist J K Verma told UNI that the rainfall in and around the state was due to a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.

All the main thoroughfares and several link roads were choked with rain water. Low lying areas in Ranchi, Bokaro, Dumka and other areas were inundated.

A report from Giridih said rail traffic between the district headquarters and Madhupur was disrupted after the rail bridge number 26 was damaged due to incessant rains.

Mr Verma said the low pressure, formed over the Bay of Bengal last night, reached Jamshedpur which resulted in the heavy rainfalls.

''The depression is now over the state capital from 0530 hrs today and moving towards north-west direction,'' said Mr Verma, adding the state would face heavy showers in the next 24 hours.

Jamshedpur recorded 132 mm rainfall and in Ranchi it was about 50 mm till this afternoon.

UNI AM PL SHB VV1659