SEVERAL PARTS of the western Indian state of Maharashtra, including the country's financial capital Mumbai, received heavy rainfall on Sunday (11) night as Cyclone Biparjoy intensified in the Arabian Sea. High tidal waves and strong winds also hit the coastal city and flight operations were also impacted in the region. Some trees were also uprooted in parts of Mumbai.
"Strong winds are possible along the Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts. High waves may occur in the sea along Gujarat and Maharashtra coast," Skymet Weather reported on Monday (12), according to India Today.
According to Skymet Weather, the cyclone over the east Central Arabian Sea has intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) tweeted on Monday, "Cyclone Alert for Saurashtra and Kutch Coast: Orange Message. ESCS BIPARJOY lay at 0830IST today, about 320km SW of Porbandar, 360km SSW of Devbhumi Dwarka, 440km South of Jakhau Port, 440km SSW of Naliya. To cross near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of 15th June as VSCS."
Chaos were witnessed at the airport in Mumbai as passengers waited for hours for their flights. A number of airlines cancelled their flights as weather conditions worsened while many inbound ones were asked to abort landing in the city. Air India issued a statement stating delays in some of their flights.
IMD said light to moderate spells of rain with gutsy wind reaching 45-55 kilometres per hour were highly likely in the isolated areas in districts of Thane, Raigad, Mumbai and Palghar in Maharashtra.
The weather agency also came up with a 'thunderstorm alert' in coastal parts of the western state.
"Thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and light to moderate spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph are very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Ratnagiri, Raigad, Thane, Palghar and Kolhapur during the next 3-4 hours. Take precautions while moving out," it said, according to India Today.
Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make landfall on the coasts in the Indian state of Gujarat and Pakistan on Thursday (15).
This photograph taken on April 28, 2026 shows a boy getting "thali", a sacred thread tied to his neck symbolising marriage to Hindu warrior god Aravan during the annual Koovagam transgender festival at the Koothandavar temple in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district. For a few fleeting days each year, at the heart of the Koothandavar Temple where ostracised transgender community members from across India come to honour the Hindu deity Aravan, a tradition rooted in millennia-old Hindu texts -- and to enjoy a brief oasis of freedom.Getty Images
This photograph taken on April 29, 2026 shows a member of the transgender community mourning as a priest cuts the "thali", a sacred thread symbolising end of her marriage to Hindu warrior god Aravan during the annual Koovagam transgender festival at the Koothandavar temple in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district. For a few fleeting days each year, at the heart of the Koothandavar Temple where ostracised transgender community members from across India come to honour the Hindu deity Aravan, a tradition rooted in millennia-old Hindu texts -- and to enjoy a brief oasis of freedom. Getty Images