Rains lashed several parts of Delhi on Monday morning after a hiatus of four days, catching commuters unaware and disrupting traffic on many stretches across the city.

Though denizens woke up to a sunny and pleasant morning, thick clouds soon enveloped the city turning it dark at around 9 a.m. while a cool breeze blew across the capital.

The rains started at around 9:30 a.m., taking office-goers and others by surprise and leading to slow movement of vehicles.

The weatherman attributed the renewed rain activity to a cyclonic circulation over Punjab and eastern Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Delhi.

The minimum temperature for the day was recorded at 24.5 degree Celsius. The mercury yesterday touched a maximum of 35.8 degree Celsius.

The capital has received record summer showers this month, providing respite from higher temperatures in May, usually known for its scorching heat wave.

During the six days of summer showers last week, the rain-gauges in the city measures around 100 mm of rains, which is a record of sorts in the recent past.

The city received a record rainfall of 36.9 mm on May 21, the highest for any single day in May in the last five years.

The record for the month in the recent times was recorded in 2002 May when the city received 129 mm of rains.