Mumbai, the bustling metropolis, was swept into a whirlwind of weather chaos today as the city experienced its first rains of the season. But just as quickly as the relief arrived, the city was hit by a massive dust storm that threw darkness over the skyline at around 3 p.m. Residents breathed a sigh of relief as the rain provided a break from the intense heat. But the dusty winds that accompanied the showers painted a dark picture across the metropolitan landscape
Mumbai Rains Turn City Upside Down
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The sudden rainfall in Mumbai didn’t just bring relief from the scorching heat but also brought traffic to a standstill as commuters scrambled for shelter. As per the Hindustan Times reports, strong winds and rain batter various parts of the city, including Ghatkopar, Bandra Kurla, and Dharavi. The chaos extended to Mumbai’s lifeline, the airport, where landing and takeoff operations were suspended for 30 minutes due to the intensity of the dust storm. Live updates from Mumbaikars also started pouring on X (previously known as Twitter).
As the weather office issued updates, it became evident that the storm was far from over. Thunderstorms, lightning, and moderate to intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching speeds of 50-60 km/hr were forecasted to persist in isolated places in districts like Palghar and Thane for the next few hours.
Trees Down, Travel Disrupted
Heavy rain + Thunderstorm in Mulund, Mumbai @mulund_info #MumbaiRains #mulund @UmredkarBhupen pic.twitter.com/s2WKyW7wHy
— Meet Bhatt (@bhxtt_meet) May 13, 2024
The storm’s impact caused trees to fall, interfering with daily life in a number of places. Due to a tree blocking a busy road in Navi Mumbai, commuters were forced to seek cover. Despite the chaos, the Mumbai IMD chief, Sunil Kamble, provided some insight. According to NDTV reports, he indicated that the thunderstorm activities were expected to last for about an hour and a half.
@RoadsOfMumbai @mashrujeet thunderstorm hits mumbai gusty winds @MumbaiTimesMT pic.twitter.com/uOurx1HMst
— VVS (@vikas_vvs) May 13, 2024
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) faced disruptions today due to Mumbai’s inclement weather and dust storms. Flight operations were temporarily suspended for about 66 minutes due to low visibility and gusty winds. During this period, 15 flights were diverted. According to MAIL’s official statement, perations resumed at 17:03 hrs.
However, the warning remained clear: residents were advised to brace themselves for possible hail at isolated places and to take necessary precautions when venturing outdoors.
Cover Image Courtesy: Ganesh Vanare/X and Jeet Mashru/X