Shillong, November 11: A heavy hailstorm swept through Shillong on Wednesday, covering roads, footpaths and parking areas with thick layers of hailstones and bringing a sudden drop in temperature across the city.

Traffic police were seen clearing hail from roads in several areas, including Polo and Jaiaw, as well as near the Deputy Commissioner’s office and Raj Bhavan, to ease movement and prevent disruption to traffic.

At Ward’s Lake, locally known as Nan Polok, children and young people gathered the hailstones to make figures and pose for photographs. The unusual weather also caught commuters by surprise, with many taking out their mobile phones to capture the scenes.

Hail fell along with heavy rain around 11 am and again in the evening, as thick clouds covered the city. In several areas, hailstones accumulated along roadsides and in open spaces, creating a snow-covered appearance. The storm also brought a sharp chill to Shillong.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Shillong recorded 28.4 mm of rainfall between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm on Wednesday. The temperature dropped from 20.5°C to 12°C during the period.

The Meteorological Centre in Shillong warned of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, gusty winds reaching 40–50 km/h and hailstorms in parts of Meghalaya.