A brutal dust storm hit the national capital Delhi on Friday night, resulting in the tragic loss of two lives and severe injuries to six individuals. The adjacent areas of Noida and Ghaziabad were also subjected to the storm’s intense winds, leading to disruptions in both traffic and air travel. In Noida’s Sector 58, several cars were damaged when a shuttering used for building repairs collapsed onto them.
According to the ANI news agency, the Delhi Police received an overwhelming number of calls related to the storm’s impact. They reported 152 calls regarding fallen trees, 55 calls concerning building damage, and 202 calls relating to power outages. Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) revealed that wind speeds surged beyond 50 kmph in Delhi at 10 pm on Friday. The relentless winds brought down a signboard in the Dwarka More area, causing damage to two vehicles, one of which was an ambulance. Furthermore, nine flights were forced to alter their routes and divert from Delhi airport due to the combination of squally winds and rainfall.
On Saturday, light rainfall brought some relief to Delhi residents as temperatures dropped to a more bearable 29 degrees Celsius. However, the maximum temperature had peaked at 39 degrees Celsius on Friday, with relative humidity fluctuating between 47 and 64 percent throughout the day.
The IMD has issued a weather forecast indicating a likelihood of light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, in various parts of the country on Saturday. These weather conditions are expected to affect Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan. A similar forecast of light rainfall has been predicted for south Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and west Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh weather office has issued a warning for thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds over the weekend. The weather department has predicted a wet spell for the next three days in the state. In contrast, the Regional Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has issued yellow and heatwave alerts as temperatures in several districts have soared past 44 degrees Celsius.
