With reference to your reporting on <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenational.ae%2Fuae%2Fenvironment%2Fheavy-rain-and-hail-in-dubai-as-freak-summer-storm-sweeps-the-uae-1.901720%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3u5NEs1ibqzrMiPDa9RK8rl4V9OlaZbOVJMJHjxTMoHlzooCFrMj-vNxs&h=AT0CiY2n1OsuYS05nCHHfaZN-sgyIycgAfsR7BsgrQK3p-6TnJzSXA4JC4YcRCUaBfB5x2YZUeuJsAxpdcI7XLBCfS3oSIFSj118wlwKAlZQKd9zfc-7lXo6JVDmutPW4ihCF31Y-apVXjpUZ3NVBeHkJN7WOF5y6Oe1fRHwJb0lcnNvvwBMZ_LTuy2jrFrW08EA_TBc7zTzlPgAi8zEW0-LmwR5z7f__nf6BWWdUw1AsXau9OH8oykAQRL2bhiIPoJQIv1-dDkXYHjmVHZqwNYn1b_E3Y1dJRCX7-OXlI1A-KFQRtUqK1MgZObyrjzel5Bv_ABwG2xSxShsH0Y5I8vnUIT0DGGo1tv9EOZhhCCfOgC-l-ddN4Tx3-f_CeivTsFst_mhROG4ll87sBIR9gUSAP1SNRUkzt0jUujvdnqanpvI-1vPXppxjGbxcn5s5_E7iA7wdbk6ejYXayPYh-mgzHQzfzXt3Afn4d8oxp7oHYbGasxjzegYmLPVIlkPzc0ry8Fgam9q8G-CXSxEsUAJ__35j9rD9qihAZtiMfMfqZOs2uRnqAGXOT4lZVR1-fdEOQjwA8DAAnobRh0uTkz4MGEg8Jb5lgKvSi8JLNXsp27zeLOi17QHm5w" target="_blank">Heavy rain and hail in Dubai as freak summer storm sweeps the UAE</a> (August 24), it rained hard in Dubai's Silicon Oasis where I live and even flooded the streets. We had powerful winds too that uprooted so many trees and even threw a large metal rubbish bin on the road. It was frightening as it was so sudden. As I stepped out my house to get into my car, it was hot and sunny. I didn't leave right away as I was on the phone texting but when I left my garage, I experienced strong enough winds to shake my SUV and there was very low visibility. It was like the end of the world. A number of windows got broken and we had heavy downpours. It all happened in less than an hour though and the weather became calm immediately afterwards. The sun even showed up again. This has never happened in my seven years in Dubai. A strange day! <em>Charon Anderson, Dubai</em> I wish I had been there to see that. It's very rare here indeed. <em>Mohammad Ali, UAE</em> I'd never seen anything like it before. <em>Natalia Alothmani, Dubai</em> We got caught in the freak storm coming back to our hotel from our city tour. It was most bizarre and the city came to a standstill! <em>Cristelle Sharpley-Ellis, South Africa</em> We definitely had it worse on a car ride to Fujairah. <em>Sarah Sutherland, Dubai</em> <strong>May UAE-India ties continue for a long time to come</strong> Referring to your recent editorial <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/editorial/the-bond-between-the-uae-and-india-is-timeless-1.901456">The bond between the UAE and India is timeless</a> (August 22), your reporting on the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UAE and his receipt of the highest civilian decoration from the UAE government for reinforcing the ties between the two nations, the Order of Zayed, was laudable. The UAE is the third largest trading partner for India and we hope this will continue for a very long time. <em>K Ragavan, Bengaluru</em>
