Heavy rains accompanied by lightning and thunder lashed several parts of Mumbai and its suburbs on Thursday evening, providing relief to the people from the heat and humidity.

However, commuters returning home from work faced some inconvenience due to the lack of raingear. Suburban rail services were normal.

A meteorological department official said these were pre-monsoon showers and added that partly cloudy skies with chances of rain/thundershowers were forecast for Mumbai in the next 24 hours.

The monsoons have arrived in Karnataka and could touch the city in a few days time, he said.

Rainfall has been reported at a few places over South Konkan-Goa, South Central Maharashtra and isolated places over North Maharashtra and Marathwada with forecast of rains at isolated places all over the state.