First time in 62 years, monsoon arrives in Mumbai and Delhi on the same day
New Delhi : Heavy rainfall drenched the cities of Delhi and Mumbai overnight as the monsoon arrived simultaneously, an uncommon occurrence. While Delhi experienced the monsoon two days ahead of schedule, Mumbai's entry was delayed by two weeks, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The last time both Mumbai and Delhi were engulfed by the monsoon around the same time was on June 21, 1961. Dr. Mrityunjay Mohapatra, Director General of IMD, stated, "Southwest monsoon is active now. It has covered the entirety of Maharashtra, including Mumbai. Monsoon has also reached Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and parts of Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu. Over the next two days, it will progress further and encompass other regions as well."
Although the rainfall provided relief from scorching heat in Delhi and neighboring areas, waterlogging was reported in several parts of Gurugram.
Over the past 24 hours, Mumbai and its suburbs experienced heavy downpours, resulting in waterlogging and traffic congestion at various locations. The IMD anticipates further showers throughout the day.
Andheri, Malad, and Dahisar were among the areas severely impacted by the rainfall. Social media visuals depicted people pushing vehicles through flooded streets.
The weather office has issued an Orange alert for Raigad and Ratnagiri due to the intense rainfall in parts of Maharashtra. Palghar, Mumbai, Thane, and Sindhudurg are under a 'yellow alert.'
This year, the monsoon made its way to Kerala on June 8, a week later than its typical onset date of June 1. Despite evolving El Nino conditions, the IMD previously predicted that India would receive normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season.
Normal rainfall is crucial for India's agricultural landscape and plays a vital role in replenishing reservoirs necessary for drinking water and power generation nationwide.
