A sudden spell of thunderstorms and rain across Mumbai and nearby areas on Tuesday evening, May 6, 2025, brought much-needed relief from the oppressive summer heat, but also disrupted suburban train operations and slowed down road traffic. Heavy showers lashed several western suburbs, including Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Andheri, and Bandra, while the eastern suburbs and parts of the island city recorded light to moderate rainfall. The change in weather followed a dust storm accompanied by gusty winds.
Neighbouring Thane and Raigad districts also experienced thunderstorms and rain. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘nowcast’ warning at 9:35 PM, forecasting thunderstorms with lightning and moderate rain, along with gusty winds reaching speeds of 50-60 km/h, over isolated areas in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Nashik for the next few hours.
As a result of the inclement weather, train services were delayed by 15 to 20 minutes on both the Western and Central Railway lines. There were reports of sparking on overhead electric wires in multiple areas, which caused momentary panic among passengers. Although some passengers reportedly jumped from halted trains out of fear, railway authorities did not confirm these incidents despite repeated queries.
Western Railway reported that a piece of cloth was found entangled in the Overhead Equipment (OHE) on the Dahisar UP fast line, temporarily affecting train movement until safety checks were completed. “All train operations are normal now. Trains are running properly,” a Western Railway spokesperson stated.
Central Railway also reported multiple trippings of overhead wires, particularly in the Kalyan-Kasara section, which contributed to the delays. The IMD had previously issued a 'yellow alert' for Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar, predicting thunderstorms and light rains.
Several parts of Mumbai experienced rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds on the same night, marking a sudden shift in the city's weather. The showers brought much-needed relief from the recent spell of hot and humid conditions. The IMD's nowcast warning indicated that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate spells of rain were expected to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai city, Mumbai suburbs, Thane, Palghar, and Nashik during the next 3-4 hours.
As the weather worsened, local train services on both the Western Railway and Central Railway were affected. A piece of cloth on the overhead wire near Dahisar led to multiple instances of sparking and power issues. The repeated sparking caused fluctuations inside the AC local train, leading to further panic among passengers.
“Due to rain and wind over the Mumbai Suburban section, suburban train services were affected and running late. A piece of cloth has been reported hanging over the Overhead Equipment (OHE) on the Dahisar Up through line. Some local trains were temporarily regulated/held up and are running only after ensuring all safety measures,” a Western Railway spokesperson explained.
Meanwhile, some services on the Central Railway were also affected after tripping of overhead equipment due to gusty winds and rains. A Central Railway spokesperson noted that CR lines were impacted following tripping of overhead equipment in various sections due to heavy wind and rain at around 9:30 PM.
Some passengers were stranded on the trans-harbour line as services were hit by rain and wind on the night of May 6. The IMD had also predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, light to moderate rainfall, and gusty winds at isolated places in Raigad, Pune, Jalgaon, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Beed, Jalna, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur, Amravati, and other regions.
Additionally, an 'orange alert' was issued for Nashik, predicting thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, gusty winds of 50-60 km/h, and hail at isolated places. A similar alert was issued for the Parbhani, Hingoli, and Nanded districts in Maharashtra.
Social media was abuzz with users sharing pictures and videos of the rains and gusty winds in various parts of Mumbai. One user posted a video of strong winds, writing, "Welcome change in Mumbai's weather," while another shared a video from Ghatkopar, saying, "It's raining in Mumbai." The weather shift has not only provided relief from the heat but also reminded residents of the unpredictable nature of Mumbai's climate.
As the rain continued into the night, residents were advised to take precautions while moving out, especially in the districts experiencing the worst of the weather. The IMD's alerts underscore the importance of being prepared for sudden changes in weather, particularly during the summer months when dust storms and heavy rains can occur unexpectedly.
This sudden weather change serves as a reminder of the variability of Mumbai's climate, where the sweltering heat can quickly give way to powerful storms, impacting daily life and transportation. As the city continues to grapple with these fluctuations, residents are left to navigate the challenges posed by both the heat and the storms.
