Monsoon Arrives Early

• Metal In The Air. The BMC’s 2010-11 report on the quality of air in the city shows that the quantity of disease-causing heavy metals in the air (lead, iron, copper, cadmium, nickel and chromium) has increased. While iron can irritate the throat and cause coughs; nickel and chromium can lead to asthma and bronchitis; lead can damage the liver. The deterioration in air quality is linked to vehicle emissions, smelters, metal-processing and battery-manufacturing industries and cement dust, say scientists. [Hindustan Times]

• Traffic Control. Traffic signals in South Mumbai will soon be equipped with pedestrian-controlled crossing systems which enable people to change traffic lights from red to green at the push of a button. The system, which already exists in London, New York, Dubai and Toronto, has been introduced at the Wilson College signal in Chowpatty, and will soon be installed at other spots along Marine Drive as well near Priyadarshini Park, Mafatlal Bath, Nana Chowk and Villa Teresa School on Pedder Road. [The Times of India]

• Snake Charm. In what authorities have called the “first theft” of any animal in its history, a non-poisonous Red Sand Boa was stolen from its cage at the Byculla zoo on Saturday morning. Because the species is common to many parts of the country, officials believe the reptile was stolen because there is “a superstition that this snake helps bring riches to a person”, said zoo director Anil Anjankar. [The Indian Express]

• Early Monsoon. The monsoon arrived in Kerala on Sunday, three days ahead of the forecasted date of June 1. According to the met department, the rains will now almost certainly reach Mumbai on, if not before, the forecasted date of June 10, as the monsoon usually arrives ten days after its onset in Kerala. [Hindustan Times]

• IPL scores. The final of the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League, where the Chennai Super Kings beat the Royal Challengers Bangalore, drew a much higher viewership than the rest of the cricket tournament. The Saturday night match registered a TRP of 5.8, up from the 5.6 rating for the final of the third edition, and over 120 per cent greater than the average of 2.6 for all the other matches of IPL IV. Cricket fans also spent an average of 55 minutes watching the final, more than the 33 minutes they spent viewing the rest of this year’s games. [The Hindu]