Rains, gusty winds cause chaos in Mumbai; flights, trains, metro hit

Flight operations at Mumbai airport were suspended for an hour on Monday and local trains were delayed amid unseasonal rains, accompanied by a dust storm.

A 100-foot tall illegal billboard fell on a petrol pump at the Cheddanagar Junction in Ghatkopar area, killing at least three persons and injuring 59 others, even as a search and rescue operation is going on.

In another rain-related incident, an under-construction metal parking tower collapsed on a road amid gusty wind in Wadala area, injuring three persons and damaging vehicles.

As many as 15 flights were diverted to different airports and the runways operation resumed at 5.03 pm, the airport operator said.

"Due to the inclement weather and dust storms in the city, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport temporarily suspended flight operations for around 66 min due to low visibility and gusty winds," it said in a statement.

Till the operations resumed, the airport witnessed 15 diversions, the statement said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the spot of the hoarding collapse incident in Ghatkopar late in the evening.

While the rainfall brought relief to the residents of Mumbai and its adjoining area from the heat, the sudden change in weather brought traffic to a standstill as commuters took shelter during the storm.

"Mumbai, we understand your high 'spirit' for the first rain, but we recommend not storming into any irresponsible plans for the day ! Stay safe and avoid any 'pour' decisions on the roads today," the Mumbai police tweeted.