India, May 12 -- For Mumbaiites, the week began on a sweaty and exhausting note, quite literally, as intense heat and oppressive humidity gripped the city on Monday, pushing residents to seek shade, hydrate constantly and slow down through the day.

Large parts of the city recorded daytime temperatures between 35degC and nearly 40degC, making it one of the hottest days of the season so far. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the highest temperature in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region was recorded at Ram Mandir in Goregaon, where the mercury soared to a scorching 39.7degC on Monday afternoon. Vikhroli followed closely at 38.5degC, while temperatures touched 37.3degC at Bandra, 37.1degC at Dahisar and 36.8degC at Vidyavih...