Heavy rains and gusting winds lashed across Mumbai and neighboring cities on Wednesday the 11th.

A depression in the Arabian Sea intensified into a cyclonic storm. Normal life has been disrupted.

[Mohmmad Shaikh, Local Commuter]:
“Trains are moving about 30-35 minutes late. It has taken me more than one hour coming to Mahim from my place.”

The situation was even worse in the city of Pune. One could see fallen trees on top of cars.

[A.B. Mazumdar, Meteorology Department, Pune]:
“This cyclone has the epicenter 250 kilometers south-south west of Mumbai and it will move towards north-north east direction. We are forecasting that it will hit Alibaug and Valsad beach by today night and due to this it will rain in many places in Maharashtra.”

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, and people living in low-lying areas have been asked to move out.

At the Mumbai airport, rain and windy conditions were causing delays of up to 40 minutes.

Rains could also hamper crushing of sugarcane in the state of Maharashtra.