Mumbai: Heavy rains affected Mumbai and coastal regions of Maharashtra on Sunday because of the monsoon’s activation. Mumbai’s local train services experienced delays, and certain flights at the airport encountered brief disruptions because of harsh weather conditions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted ongoing intense rainfall for Mumbai, its surrounding areas, and adjacent districts. A red alert has been declared for Mumbai, while Raigad received a red alert due to forecasts of heavy rainfall anticipated in the next two hours.

Travel advisories indicated that all flight operations could be impacted, encouraging passengers to verify their flight status. Rain and thunderstorms had been continuous since the previous night, although their intensity diminished in South Mumbai by the afternoon. Water accumulation was observed in various low-lying areas, affecting traffic movement on primary roads such as LBS Road in Kurla and Vakola Bridge.

Rainfall totals indicated significant accumulation: 161 mm in Wadala, 150 mm in Prabhadevi, 147 mm in Matunga, with numerous other regions recording between 100 mm and 150 mm.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation cautioned about rising sea levels, with waves possibly hitting 4.21 meters. Authorities stressed the importance of reaching out to the control room helpline for help in emergencies. With changing conditions, residents are urged to stay vigilant regarding flooding and traffic issues throughout the city.

The NMMC’s Disaster Management Cell reported five trees down due to 44.48 mm of rain in 24 hours. Belapur (52.04 mm) and Nerul (49.27 mm) were the most affected. Morbe Dam’s water level is 73.69 meters. An orange alert is issued for Thane and Raigad with heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds expected. Residents are advised to ensure safety and contact emergency numbers.

IndiGo Airlines has issued a travel advisory due to a “temporary disruption” in flight schedules over Mumbai caused by heavy rainfall. Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys as delays and slower traffic are anticipated.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy rain in Mumbai and surrounding areas later in the day. From June 18 to 21, isolated heavy rains are expected in Kokan, Goa, and parts of Maharashtra, with light to moderate rainfall in Gujarat on June 16 and 17. A red alert has also led to a holiday for educational institutions in several Kerala districts today.

Chennai, May 31: The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has predicted heavy rains in Nilgiris, Ghat areas of Coimbatore and southern districts of Tamil Nadu including Theni, Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, and Tirunelveli.

These regions, have been witnessing heavy rainfall over the past week due to the orographic effect, which enhances precipitation.

However following a prolonged and intense wet spell that brought heavy and unprecedented rainfall across parts of Tamil Nadu, particularly in the Nilgiris and the Western Ghats, the southwest monsoon is expected to take a significant break starting June 1.

According to the RMC, this lull in monsoon activity is likely to last for at least 10 days.

The shift in weather conditions is attributed to the weakening of the weather system over the Bay of Bengal, which has significantly reduced the intensity of rainfall across the state.

With the system losing steam, meteorologists expect drier conditions to prevail over most parts of Tamil Nadu in the coming days.

In the past 24 hours, Chinnakalar in Coimbatore district recorded the highest rainfall at 13 cm, followed closely by Nalumukku and Oothu in Tirunelveli district, and Valparai in Coimbatore, each registering 12 cm of rain.

Meanwhile, in the northern parts of the state, rainfall was more subdued.

Tiruttani recorded 23 mm of rain till 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Chennai, too, experienced moderate showers with Nungambakkam receiving 25 mm and Meenambakkam 19.5 mm of rainfall.

The recent rainfall has brought much-needed respite to several parched regions, replenishing water bodies and boosting agricultural prospects.

However, authorities have advised caution in the hilly areas due to the risk of landslides and waterlogging.

With the monsoon likely to pause for over a week, weather experts urge the public to use this break to prepare for the next active phase, which is expected to resume mid-June.

Pune: The impression created ahead of the assembly poll season by the Shiv Sena (UBT’s) high-profile spokesperson Sanjay Raut that his party would contest at least three, if not five seats, in Pune city and several in Pune district, has gone bust.

There is utter disappointment among the Shiv Sena (UBT) cadres in the Pune district, as it has transpired that the party has been left with just one seat in all of the Pune district which has 21 seats; NCP (Sharad Pawar) has kept 13 seats in Pune for itself while seven seats will be contested by the Congress party.

Disappointment bordering on frustration is now evident among the Shiv Sena (UBT) cadres in Pune. The fallout of this will likely be defection in the coming days. Leaders and activists from Uddhav Thackseray’s party have been vocal during Sanjay Raut’s visit to Pune and on other occasions. Anticipating that their party could get three tickets in the MVA seat-share in Pune city, they sounded upbeat; however, the excitement was short-lived.

Statement Of Shiv Sena-UBT Leader Sanjay Raut

“We have grown in Pune, since the late 1980s. We now have the capacity to contest all eight seats in Pune city, as we have the force on the ground to do so but because we have alliance partners in the MVA, we will leave some seats for them. We will contest at least three city seats if not five of the eight and many more in rural parts of the district,” party MP Sanjay Raut had said at a rally and at a media conference in Pune just a month ago.

This encouraged leaders like former Hadapsar MLA Mahadev Babar and a fresh aspirant from Kothrud, Pruthviraj Sutar, to start campaigning and put up posters and hoardings in their constituencies.

“Both Babar and Sutar visited Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai and were made to wait for hours before they got a hearing for less than five minutes. Both were disappointed about their meeting with our leader and they have not been given a party ticket,” said an insider.

About The Lone Seat

Now, it has transpired that Shiv Sena (UBT) has been given just the lone Kothrud constituency seat, which is considered a BJP stronghold. In the 2019 polls Congress, Sharad Pawar’s NCP, and Raj Thackeray’s MNS had jointly fielded candidate Kishore Shinde in Kothrud, but he lost to BJP’s Chandrakant Patil. Shiv Sena (UBT) has decided to field Chandrakant Mokate as their candidate in Kothrud. Though the 2024 election is likely to be close, it is generally believed that the Kothrud seat may go to the BJP, as the MVA does not seem to be fully united in this constituency and does not have a formidable candidate. In such a case, it looks like Uddhav Thackeray’s party will have virtually no presence in the entire Pune city and district after the results are out.

Sharad Pawar’s NCP, which always cultivated Pune as its bastion, has not left any space for Uddhav Thackeray’s party in the district. This unexpected windfall has net Congress the Colaba seat, which was previously being eyed by Shiv Sena (UBT), to take on Speaker Rahul Narvekar, whose pro-BJP verdict had caused much din. In behind-the-scenes maneuvering, the Congress has swapped Kolhapur’s candidate with Madhurima Raje and introduced Hira Dewasi against Narvekar in Colaba, signaling the party’s subtle exercise of clout. With 103 seats allocated to the Congress, only Borivali and Mulund remain undecided in Mumbai.