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Monsoon reaches Mumbai two days early; heavy rains lash city

The Southwest monsoon reached Mumbai on June 9, two days earlier than usual after making an early onset over Kerala and northeastern region on May 30, the India Meteorological Department said.

Last year, the primary rain-bearing system reached Delhi and Mumbai together on June 25, first time since June 21, 1961, with Cyclone Biparjoy impacting its progress over southern India and the adjoining western and central parts of the country. Normally, the monsoon reaches Kerala by June 1, Mumbai by June 11, and the national capital by June 27.

Weather scientists said cyclone Remal, which ripped through West Bengal and Bangladesh in May-end, pulled the monsoonal flow to the Bay of Bengal, resulting in an early onset over the northeast.

Mumbai and its neighbouring areas received heavy rains in the last 24 hours, bringing down the mercury and providing relief to residents from the hot and humid weather, officials said.

Due to the heavy showers, a part of the road in the neighbouring Palghar caved in, affecting traffic movement on the busy Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway for more than four hours in the morning.

Some people held up in the traffic jam since 5.30 a.m. on June 9 claimed no agency was attending to the problem.

Various other districts of Maharashtra, including Thane, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ahmednagar, Satara and Jalgaon, also received good showers.

In the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on June 9, Mumbai received more than 60 mm of rainfall.

Thane and Palghar districts also witnessed heavy rains overnight, leading to water-logging in some areas, officials said.