The financial capital of India, Mumbai witnessed the first heavy rains of the season on Wednesday. A number of low-lying areas were waterlogged and trains were suspended. “It’s monsoon arrival in Mumbai today,” said Dr Jayanta Sarkar, head of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Mumbai office said.

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Stranded local train commuters walk on the waterlogged railway tracks during rain, at Kurla, in Mumbai.
Commuters make their way through the waterlogged road during heavy rain, at Kings Circle, in Mumbai.
 Vehicles ply through a waterlogged road at MAFCO market during heavy rain, in Navi Mumbai.
Vehicles make their way through the waterlogged road during heavy rain, at Kings Circle, in Mumbai.
People hold umbrellas cross the road during rain at CST, in Mumbai
Railway track submerged in rainwater during rain, at Chunabhatti railway station, in Mumbai.

As per the latest satellite observations, Mumbai city and suburbs are very likely to experience moderate to intense spells of rainfall (2-3cm/hr) during the next 3-4 hrs. Possibility of thunder lightning at isolated places,” the IMD Mumbai said in its forecast at 2:30 PM.

The city and its suburbs experienced thunderstorms along with moderate to intense spells of rainfall during the past 3 hours, it added.

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai, and neighbouring Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places there during the day.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray directed the administration to ensure the accumulated rainwater is drained out at the earliest and transport resumed.

Thackeray spoke to the control rooms in Mumbai and collectors of Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Palghar districts as incessant rains led to the inundation of several areas, affecting the normal life.