Monsoon advances; Delhi, Mumbai get first wet weekend

Rainfall continued in several parts of the country, even as the monsoon entered Madhya Pradesh on Sunday and began advancing across Odisha and Maharashtra.

In Maharashtra, Marathwada and Konkan coast witnessed heavy rains, while Mumbaikars thronged beaches and seafronts to celebrate their first wet weekend of the year.

The whole of Mumbai Metropolitan Area (MMA) experienced good showers, relieving people from the oppressing heat.  Polling at Vasai-Virar suburbs for the civic polls was recorded 50 per cent, as many stayed indoors due to intermittent rains and traffic snarls.

People in Mumbai thronged at the Marine Drive, Gateway of India-Apollo Bunder, Bandra Bandstand and beaches like Juhu chowpatty and Girgaum chowpatty. 

Meanwhile, a top MeT department official in Madhya Pradesh said rains would continue to lash the state for the next 24 hours following the arrival of monsoon in the state on Sunday.

“Monsoon today (Sunday) entered extreme south-west MP, including Indore, and south-east Madhya Pradesh,” Indian Meteorological Centre’s (IMC) Bhopal-based regional office Director Dr Anupam Kashyapi told PTI.

While the monsoon originating from the Arabian Sea entered the state’s extreme southern region, rains from Bay of Bengal also arrived on the south-eastern part.
Bhopal MeT department officer Yogesh Shrivastava said rainfall was recorded on Sunday in several parts of Rewa, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Sagar, Hoshangabad, Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior and Chambal divisions. In Odisha, rains advanced to more parts on Sunday, having entered the state through the southern district of Malkangiri on Saturday.

Monsoon rains became active in Nawarangpur and Koraput districts on Sunday, while also covering several parts of Nuapada, Kalahandi and Rayagada. A senior IMD official said the monsoon would spread across the state in the next two to three days.

Wet weather in Delhi plunged the temperatures several notches, relieving residents from the clutches of the intense heat wave.

After a massive dust storm Saturday evening, intermittent showers continued and the city received moderate rainfall of 25.7 mm. Light rains are expected to continue for the next couple of days.

Palam station recorded 37.0 mm rainfall, while Lodhi Road recorded 24.8 mm and Aya Nagar 51.7 mm rains since Saturday morning, said a MeT official.