Clouds, rain eclipse rare event; Amdavadis disappointed

Heavy clouds and light drizzle eclipsed the enthusiasm of some 450 people who had flocked to the Science city to catch a glimpse of the once-in-a-century event.

The people who had flocked to the Science city to get a view of the rare solar eclipse had to return home disappointed without so much as a glimpse of the event as heavy clouds and rain made any viewing impossible.

 "This was a very important event for us. None of us will live long enough to see another such event and I am sad that we missed this one chance," said Ashok Mehta, executive director, Science City.  Solar eclipse was to be partially visible from Ahmedabad with 98% of the sun being covered by the moon. But it could not be viewed as weather paid truant. Dr Jayshree Sheth, an eclipse chaser was on her terrace sharp at 6 am with her eclipse glasses to take in the majestic sight. But all that she faced was disappointment.

"I woke up at 5 and was on the terrace to view the partial eclipse but unfortunately there was no such luck. It was really disheartening. The eclipse lasted for well over 2 minutes but sadly, I had to watch it on television" says Sheth.

In other parts of Gujarat, however, the eclipse was better visible.

Goga near Bhavnagar provided a better view of the eclipse. "The eclipse was better visible here in Goga than in Ahmedabad where I hear it was quite hazy. Here, usually during an eclipse, the cowherds don't milk their cows and stop whatever work they are doing.  But this time due to active campaigning and awareness programmes people realised their folly and carried on with their work," Manoj Pai, president, Gujarat Astronomy club said.

The phenomenon that had sparked a mini-tourism boom for Surat, drawing thousands of tourists from around the world, also turned out to be a flop show with Surat's weather too played truant.