Mumbai: The India Meteorological Department has predicted "heavy to very heavy" rainfall at a few places in Mumbai over the next 24 hours.

The Colaba and Santacruz observatories have recorded 44.2 mm and 27.7 mm rainfall respectively in the 24- hour period starting on Saturday at 8.30 am, an IMD official said on Sunday.

The IMD forecast said there would be fairly widespread rainfall across Maharashtra on Sunday, which will be especially beneficial for Marathwada and Vidarbha, both regions reporting deficit rainfall so far this season.

Mumbai and its suburbs, Thane, Palghar and Pune have received rainfall in excess of the normal average between June 1 and July 24, it said.

Seasonal state-level rainfall figures have not been updated as yet, the IMD official informed.

On July 26, Santacruz recorded a whopping 124 mm of rainfall between 5:30 pm and 11:30 pm, with the suburban railways affected in the central line.

Heavy rainfall marred Kurla-Thane belt and also Kalyan. The rainfall also affected air service as flights were delayed.

Roads were waterlogged and traffic came to a standstill for hours.