Monsoon paints two pictures: Delhi-NCR gets relief as Mumbai grapples with flooding

In the national capital, moderate showers on July 2 brought down temperatures and eased the humid conditions that had prevailed over the past few days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Delhi-NCR, forecasting cloudy skies, light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain between 32°C and 34°C as the monsoon continues to strengthen across North India.

The IMD has also indicated that the southwest monsoon is likely to advance further over northern states in the coming days, increasing the chances of widespread rainfall.

In Uttarakhand, where the monsoon has covered the entire state, an orange alert has been issued for heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts, with authorities warning of possible landslides and waterlogging.

In sharp contrast, Mumbai has been battered by relentless rain over the past 24 hours, causing widespread waterlogging and disruption.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the eastern suburbs recorded up to 164 mm of rainfall, while the western suburbs received 149 mm and the island city recorded 134 mm during the period.

Among the worst-affected areas were Mulund, Powai and Santacruz, where rainfall exceeded 200 mm at several monitoring stations. Waterlogging was reported from multiple parts of the city, affecting traffic and daily commuting.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places.

Palghar district has been placed under a red alert, leading the district administration to declare a holiday for schools and colleges. Authorities in Thane have also been placed on high alert as continuous rainfall has inundated several residential areas in Ambernath, Kalyan and Bhiwandi.

The weather department has further forecast the formation of a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal around July 3, which is expected to intensify monsoon activity over western India.

As a result, Mumbai and the Konkan region are likely to continue receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next few days.

(With inputs from IANS)