Heavy rains hit flight services at Mumbai airport; waterlogging, traffic jams reported

At least 17 flights were diverted and many delayed by an hour on average from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (MIAL) on Friday evening due to incessant rainfall at several parts of the financial capital for the last two hours. After a week-long dry spell, monsoon rain made a comeback in the city on Thursday, causing severe waterlogging, fluctuating visibility and slow road traffic movement.

Meanwhile, orange alert has been issued in Borivali and Thane amid reports of intermittent showers all through the night. Commuters are requested not to venture in water logged areas and to maintain a safe distance from the sea. In case of any emergency Mumbaikars should call on 100 or tweet the Mumbai Police at its official handle. As of now, it has stopped raining in the city and the water level has started receding in low lying areas.

#WATCH Mumbai: Roads in Matunga area water-logged, after heavy rainfall in the city. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/O8TUKmHNRc

— ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2019

READ | Minutes of rainfall leaves Delhi waterlogged, traffic moves at snail's pace

Earlier in the day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and strong surface winds exceeding 50-60 km per hour across Mumbai, Thane and Raigad. Due to the strengthening of monsoon currents and formation of low pressure area over North West Bay of Bengal, rainfall intensity is likely to increase over North Konkan in the next 48 hours, the weatherman added.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD): Due to the strengthening of monsoon currents & formation of low pressure area over North West Bay of Bengal, rainfall intensity is very likely to increase over North Konkan during next 48 hours. pic.twitter.com/yqINSlKjAQ

— ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2019

Heavy to very heavy rainfall are also expected at isolated places over Konkan, Goa, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Madhya Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Assam, Meghalaya, Gujarat region and Jharkhand.

READ | Mumbai Rains: How to survive monsoon in India’s financial capital, here’s ultimate guide

Fishermen are advised not to venture into west-central and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea and North Arabian Sea as strong winds, speed reaching 40-50 kmph, are likely to prevail in these regions. The rainfall activity has increased over central India, Northern Plains and Western Himalayan region from July 24 and is predicted to remain active till Sunday, July 28, 2019.