NEW DELHI — Monsoon rains brought relief from high temperatures across India's capital on Monday while triggering traffic disruptions and transport delays, as heavier downpours in Mumbai caused flooding, travel interruptions and multiple fatalities, authorities said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Delhi, forecasting light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds that lowered temperatures after weeks of humid weather. The weather office said additional showers were likely through the day, with residents advised to remain alert for localized waterlogging and reduced visibility.
In Mumbai, however, persistent heavy monsoon rain prompted the IMD to issue a red alert for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, warning of intense rainfall and strong winds. Authorities closed schools and colleges, postponed university examinations and urged residents to avoid non-essential travel as flooding disrupted road, rail and air transport.
The Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority advised private companies to allow employees to work from home wherever possible and directed non-essential government offices to operate for only half a day in response to the severe weather. Officials said the measures were intended to reduce travel risks while emergency agencies responded to flooding and other rain-related incidents.
Heavy rain also affected aviation, with several flights diverted and numerous others delayed at Mumbai's airport because of adverse weather conditions. Rail services on parts of the Mumbai-Pune corridor were suspended following landslides, while sections of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway were closed after slope failures linked to the continuing downpours.
The rains turned deadly in Mumbai's eastern suburbs, where at least six people, including five children, were killed after a group of buildings collapsed amid the prolonged rainfall, according to local authorities. Emergency responders continued search and rescue operations while officials assessed structural damage in affected neighborhoods.
The IMD said an active southwest monsoon, reinforced by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, was expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to several regions of India over the next two days, including parts of Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Odisha and neighboring states. Authorities urged residents in vulnerable areas to monitor official weather advisories and follow local emergency instructions as the wet weather continued.
