Mumbai gets its first big spell of rain, floods

Heavy rain coupled with thunderstorms had Mumbaiites struggling to get home on Monday evening. This is the first time since June 11, when the monsoon officially set in, that the city has experienced heavy rainfall.

Heavy rain coupled with thunderstorms had Mumbaiites struggling to get home on Monday evening. This is the first time since June 11, when the monsoon officially set in, that the city has experienced heavy rainfall.

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Weathermen said Mumbai-ites should be prepared for intense showers on Tuesday, which will also see higher tide levels (4.7 metres at 2.37 pm).

“Clouds are moving from the Arabian Sea to land, which is a good weather pattern system. Therefore, there has been intense rain in both south and north Mumbai,” said R.V. Sharma, deputy director general, western region, India Meteorological Department. “Previously, the clouds were moving from land to sea and so did not carry too much moisture.”

On Monday, Colaba received 79.8 mm of rainfall and Santacruz 56.9 mm till 8.30 pm.

The heavy rainfall led to water-logging in several low-lying areas, disrupting traffic, especially at major junctions in the city as people hurried to get home.