Rains return to Mumbai after hiatus; flights hit

Mumbai: Heavy rains made a reappearance in Mumbai Monday after a hiatus, affecting road and rail traffic and briefly disrupting operations at the city airport.

Office-goers braved torrential downpour in many parts of the metropolis to reach their places of work.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast "intense spells of rainfall" with heavy rains expected at a few places in Mumbai and suburbs Monday.

It said heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely at places in Raigad and Palghar districts and at a few places in Thane district.

Mumbai airport operations were briefly suspended in the morning due to heavy rains, which prompted the airport operator to divert three city-bound flights, a Mumbai International Airport Limited official said. No flights were cancelled, he added.

Runway operations at the Mumbai airport remained suspended for nearly 20 minutes from 9.12 am due to heavy rains, he added. The Central Railway said there was heavy rain at various locations on Mumbai suburban route.