Monsoon reaches Mumbai; Heavy rains disrupt local train services, flights

With monsoon already having entered Maharashtra yesterday (June 8), it was predicted that very heavy rainfall may hit coastal parts of the state, including Mumbai.

Heavy rains in Mumbai on Saturday morning disrupted normal life as the local train service was affected. Even the flights are affected by the heavy downpour. 11 domestic flights and 12 international flights have been delayed. Four international flights have reportedly been cancelled.

Mumbai's local trains are the lifeline of the city as it is the main form of public transport for the dwellers of the metropolitan city. Reports say that the trains were running late by around 15 minutes.

"The trains on Central Railways suburban are running with delay of 10-12 minutes. There is no cancellation at present," news agency ANI quoted CPRO Central Railways as saying.

IMD today confirmed that South Western monsoon has reached Mumbai, a day before expected.

With monsoon already having entered Maharashtra yesterday (June 8), it was predicted that very heavy rainfall may hit coastal parts of the state, including Mumbai.

"We are expecting heavy rainfall to continue over Mumbai and Konkan region for the next two days. We have issued warnings of heavy rainfall to all agencies and fishermen," IMD's Ajay Kumar told news agency ANI.

People in Mumbai can dial 1916 and those outside Mumbai can dial 1077 in case of emergency.

Pre-monsoon showers in Mumbai on Thursday disrupted the normal life as the local trains serivces were affected. Trains running on Mumbai's suburban railway Central line were delayed by at least 20 minutes. Some flights also had to be diverted to Ahmedabad as the downpour was heavy.

The IMD has been warning that Mumbai and surrounding areas may witness heavy to very heavy rainfall from June 8 to June 10. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has cancelled weekend offs of its employees so that they remain on standby to deal with any possible disruptions due to the downpour.