Mumbai experienced the arrival of its first rains of the season on Monday, accompanied by a significant duststorm that darkened the sky around 3 pm. While the rainfall brought relief from the heat, the cityscape was shrouded by swirling dust, creating challenging conditions for residents and commuters.
The sudden weather change led to traffic disruptions as commuters sought shelter during the storm. Strong winds and rain were particularly intense in areas like Ghatkopar, Bandra Kurla and Dharavi.
Notably, operations at the Mumbai airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, one of India’s busiest airports, were temporarily halted for 30 minutes due to the duststorm, according to sources.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an advisory stating that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and heavy rainfall, with wind speeds of 50-60 km/hr, are likely to occur in isolated places in Palghar and Thane districts over the next few hours.
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The impact of the strong winds was evident as trees toppled in various parts of the city. In Navi Mumbai, a tree fell on a busy road in Aroli Sector 5. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, but traffic came to a halt as commuters safely parked their vehicles away from the affected area amid the persisting heavy winds.
The onset of the monsoon season in Mumbai, marked by these dramatic weather events, underscores the need for residents to exercise caution and preparedness during adverse weather conditions in the coming days.
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