Two incidents of lightning strikes were reported in Bhandup (West) with minor casualties, light thundershowers may follow over next couple of days
Two incidents of lightning strikes were reported in Bhandup (West) with minor casualties, light thundershowers may follow over next couple of days
Even as the sporadic rainfall caused by the retreating monsoon brought respite to the city from scorching heat yesterday, it spelt disaster for some citizens. A lightning incident in a slum in Bhandup West affected four people. 
Caught off-guard: A woman shields herself from the unexpected
downpour yesterday. PIC/NIMESH DAVE
"Lightning struck the roof of Rakesh Yadav's (30) house in the slums. His wife Manisha (30), and sons Aditya (10) and Ashish (8) were injured," said an official from the BMC's disaster control.u00a0 "But the family was discharged within a few hours after treatment at Mulund General Hospital."
Yadav said, "We were watching TV at our place in the evening when the lightning struck the roof of my house. There was a fire and the roof caved in over our heads. Aditya has got a head injury but nothing to worry about. We were treated by doctors and discharged immediately."
There was another incident of a lightning bolt striking Satya Vijay building in the same locality, but no one was injured. Also, two incidents of tree falls were reported from Dadar and Mulund.
The BMC's disaster management cell had alerted its units, as the rainfall was quite highu00a0-- 30.7 mm and 57.8 mm in the city and suburbs till 8.30 pm last evening.
Stormy weather
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall is occurring due to the easterly wave created in this transition period in October wherein the southwest monsoon changes into a northeasterly wind field.
"There is an upper air cyclonic circulation over East Central Arabian due to which there would be thunderstorm activity in the entire state," said a weather official.
While VK Rajeev, director of regional forecasting centre, Mumbai IMD, said, "There would be rains and thunder in the next 48 hours. We would further study it till the monsoon lasts."
He added that the transition period has been delayed: it is generally in the last week of September.
Humidity levels in the city have also shot up (see box).
48-hr forecast
Expect a few spells of light rains and thundershowers in parts of the city and the suburbs.
Maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 32-33 degress Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius respectively.
STICKY WEDNESDAY
Humidityu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
South Mumbai:u00a0u00a0u00a0 89%,u00a0u00a0u00a0 12%
above normal
Suburbs:u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 95%,u00a0u00a0u00a0 14%
above normal
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