Mumbai’s scorching heatwave finally broke on Monday afternoon as the city was drenched by its first monsoon rains. The downpour, accompanied by an intense sandstorm, brought a dramatic change to the city’s atmosphere, transforming it into a scene reminiscent of a dystopian film. The sandstorm, which swept through the city’s streets, was captured in numerous videos and images that went viral on social media. The heavy rainfall and gusty winds brought relief to residents who had been struggling to cope with the oppressive heat. The rainfall was welcomed by Mumbaikars, who had been facing a prolonged heatwave. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted lightning and gusty winds, reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour, in isolated areas of the city. A ‘Yellow’ alert has been issued for the districts of Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, while an ‘Orange’ alert is in place for Pune, Satara, Sangli, Nashik, Kolhapur, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Jalna, and Parbhani districts. The strong winds uprooted trees in several areas of Mumbai, causing traffic snarls. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the administration swiftly rerouted traffic from vulnerable areas to prevent any untoward incidents. On Monday, flight operations at Mumbai International Airport were briefly suspended for 30 minutes due to the adverse weather conditions. The suspension came amid forecasts of hailstorms, gusty winds, and heavy rain in some districts of Maharashtra. The monsoon rains in Mumbai and other parts of India are expected to provide much-needed relief from the intense heatwave that has gripped the country in recent weeks. The combination of anticyclonic conditions and El Nino effects has contributed to record-high temperatures in several states.
The respite from the heatwave is a welcome change for Mumbai’s residents, who have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the monsoon. The rains are also expected to improve the air quality in the city, which has been suffering from high levels of pollution. The meteorological department has advised people to take necessary precautions and stay indoors during the monsoon season. They have also warned of the possibility of waterlogging and flooding in low-lying areas.
