Mumbai’s residents welcomed the first seasonal rains on May 13 after enduring several days of extreme heat. However, the rains were accompanied by a severe sandstorm, creating an unusual weather scenario. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘Yellow’ alert for several districts, including Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, predicting lightning and strong winds of up to 30-40 km per hour. The IMD also reported hailstorm activity in isolated places across Jammu-Kashmir, Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, Telangana, and Madhya Maharashtra. The rains and gusty winds impacted local train and metro services in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), causing delays and disruptions. Flights at Mumbai International Airport were also delayed for 30 minutes due to poor visibility caused by heavy rain and dust storms. Indigo Airlines advised passengers to check their flight status due to potential air traffic congestion resulting from the dust storm.
Mumbai Welcomes Seasonal Rains and Sandstorms After Heatwave
