New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS): Heavy rains lashed the city Thursday afternoon, bringing a respite from the heat and muggy weather but plunging several parts of the city into hours-long traffic snarls.

City residents woke up to a cool Thursday with rainfall in some parts and forecast of more showers later in the day.

The minimum temperature was 25.7 degrees Celsius, down from Wednesday's 27.7 degrees Celsius. The maximum was expected to be around 32 degrees Celsius.

Though the rains cooled the city, Delhiites had a harrowing time Thursday due to the traffic snarls at various stretches of arterial roads.

According to Delhi Traffic Police, there were reports of traffic being affected at Rail Bhavan near Parliament, Rafi Marg and the ITO crossing in central Delhi, Mayapuri chowk, Naraina road and Dhaula Kuan in west Delhi, Vikas Marg in east Delhi and Kalindi Kunj and Malviya Nagar in south Delhi and the Noida DND flyway.

Water-logging was reported from several areas like Patparganj, Lala Lajpat Rai road, ITO, Chandni Chowk, Prahladpur, Keshav Chowk, Maharani Bagh, Dwarka and Lajpat Nagar.

"With just a few hours rain, the city is stuck. There are serpentine traffic jams and knee-deep water. The position of the city is frustrating," said Ritu Kumar, a BPO worker who was stuck at Dhuala Kuan.

While stalled cars were a common sight, at many places like Greater Kailash, Connaught Place, India Gate and Indraprastha Park people seemed to enjoy being soaked in the rain.

"We had samosas and kachoris. The rains came as a respite from the heat," said a group of college girls at Connaught Place in central Delhi.