Torrential rain hits east

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Torrential rain has disrupted traffic in the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui. And landslides have cut the Shanghai-Kunming railway.

Citizens wait for bus on the flooded road in Nanjing, capital of  east China's Jiangsu Province, July 7, 2009. A heavy downpour  drenched the city and blocked the traffic from Monday night to  Tuesday morning. [Photo: Xinhua]

More than 130 milimeters of rain fell in some areas of Jiangsu's provincial capital Nanjing on Tuesday. The weather bureau issued an Orange-level warning.

And nearly 160 milimeters of rain fell in some parts of Anhui, rapidly swelling the Huai River and forcing local authorities to discharge floodwater. Flood control departments are monitoring the water level 24 hours a day.

The rain also caused landslides in southwest China's Guizhou province, blocking the Shanghai-Kunming railway.

The line was expected to be cleared by Tuesday night.

Some rivers in Guangxi and Guangdong have risen to about three meters above the alarm level and authorities have taken flood prevention measures.

Weather forecasters said rain would sweep through northern China from Tuesday night. They say that should relieve the drought in Shaanxi, Gansu and Inner Mongolia.