Heavy Rains Lash Mumbai: 3 Die of Electrocution, Flights Delayed

Flight operations at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were hit as heavy rains lashed Mumbai.

Heavy rains lashed Mumbai on Saturday, 2 June. 

(Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Pre-monsoon showers accompanied by gusty winds lashed Mumbai and surrounding areas on Saturday, 2 June, even as three people were killed in incidents of electrocution, officials said.

The rains started on Saturday evening in many parts of Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Ratnagiri after dense cloud formation since late afternoon, and later developed into a thunderstorm with lightning and continuous drizzling.

Flight operations at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were hit with delays in arrivals and departures and diversions of several domestic, international and cargo flights.

While Sri Lankan Airways' Colombo-Mumbai flight was diverted to Ahmedabad, other flights of Jet Airways, GoAir, Qatar Airways and various airlines were also diverted.

In the first rain-related tragedy, two people, including a minor girl, were electrocuted when they came in contact with a live wire during heavy rains in Khindipada of Bhandup West.

The victims — 32-year-old Anil Yadav and 9-year-old Zara Yunus Khan — were rushed to the MT Agarwal Hospital in Mulund, but were declared dead.

In another such incident in Bhandup East, Om Fadtare, 23, died of electrocution.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai, issued a storm warning for Thane and surrounding areas, with chances of thunderstorms, lightning, strong winds and rains in many parts on Saturday evening.

In view of the storm warnings in and around Mumbai, all civic and disaster units remained in a state of high alert to tackle any emergencies that may arise.