Showers bring relief, but cause 3 deaths, hit air traffic

Three die of electrocution in Bhandup; flights diverted; local train services disrupted; IMD says city can expect similar weather for the next few days

MUMBAI :As Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai experienced the first showers of the season on Saturday evening, three people were killed by electrocution, and flights and local train services were hit.

While the weather bureau said these were only pre-monsoon showers, there were thundershowers, along with gusty winds, in several parts of Thane, Kalyan, Dombivli, Ambernath, Navi Mumbai, Vasai and Virar. According to the disaster management cell of TMC, Thane recorded 12mm rain between 7.30pm and 11.30pm.

In the evening, light rain was recorded in the suburbs including Goregaon, Andheri, Borivli, Kandivli, Dahisar, Chembur, and Santcruz. Around 8.30pm, light showers made its way to central parts of the city including Dadar, Parel and Worli. Light drizzling was reported from parts of south Mumbai. Santacruz recorded 25.5mm from 7pm to 11.30pm, while traces of rainfall in Colaba, till 8.30pm, were negligible.

The weather bureau has termed the rainfall as pre-monsoon showers. “Land heating over the past few days allows the formation of tall clouds that leads to thundershowers. Mumbai and surrounding areas can expect more such showers over the next three days,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region,imd. Meanwhile, day temperature in the suburbs and south Mumbai was were at 35 degree Celsius mark, a little over a degree Celsius above normal, while the night temperature was similar to previous days.

In Bhandup, three died and one was injured by electrocution in two separate incidence. Sara Shaikh, 9, and Anil Yadav, 32, were rushed to the Rajwadi Hospital around 8.30pm and declared dead on arrival. Om Padtare, 10, and Rohan Sutar were rushed to Godrej Hospital, where Padtare was declared dead on arrival. In Malvani, two boys were rescued from a nullah around 9.30pm and no injuries were reported.

Flight services were also disrupted. According to Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd spokesperson, three flights had to be diverted and flight operations were delayed for up to 40 minutes. The runway had to be briefly shut, said airport sources.

WR local train services were also hit, as tripping occurred in the overhead wire between Bhayandar and Virar railway stations at 7.50pm. According to WR’S statement, “Four suburban services were cancelled due to overhead equipment’s tripping between Bhayandar and Virar stations. The situation got normal at 8.20pm and the local train service began.” Further, small disruptions in overhead equipment occurred between Goregaon and Borivali, Vile Parle and Andheri, Goregaon and Virar and near Matunga Road station.