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Mumbai witnessed a sudden change in weather on May 13, 2024, as the city was hit by a massive dust storm and the first rains of the season. The storm turned the sky dark around 3 pm, bringing relief from the heat but also causing significant disruption to daily life.
The rainfall brought relief to the residents of Mumbai and its adjoining areas, but the skyline of the metropolis was encircled by dusty winds. The sudden change in weather brought traffic to a standstill as commuters took shelter during the storm. Strong winds and rain were witnessed in the Ghatkopar, Bandra Kurla, and Dharavi areas of Mumbai.
The dust storm and heavy rain also impacted operations at the Mumbai airport, one of the busiest airports in the country. Landing and takeoff operations were temporarily suspended, and the airport authority reported 15 flight diversions during the storm. The airport resumed operations at 5:03 pm.
Strong winds uprooted a 100-foot tall billboard that fell on a petrol pump at the Cheddanagar Junction in Mumbai's Ghatkopar, trapping vehicles and people. Visuals from the scene showed people exclaiming that people were dead, but no casualties have been reported so far. A rescue operation is underway, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) called to assist.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mumbai has issued a "nowcast warning," forecasting thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate to intense spells of rain for Thane, Palghar, and Mumbai. The weather office has also warned of moderate to severe thunderstorms over the next 2-3 hours in the South Ghat areas of Pune and Satara.
Due to the strong winds, metro services were suspended between Aarey and Andheri East metro stations after a banner landed on the overhead wire. Suburban services on Central Railway were also affected after an overhead equipment pole between Thane and Mulund stations was bent.
The strong winds also caused trees to fall in several areas. In Mumbai's neighboring Navi Mumbai, a tree fell on a busy road in the Aroli Sector 5 area, blocking traffic and forcing commuters to park their vehicles at a safe distance.
Source: Massive Dust Storm, Season's First Rain In Mumbai, Airport Ops Affected