Squall, dust storm hit Delhi

NEW DELHI: A dust storm, with a wind speed of 70 kilometres per hour, hit the national capital on Monday night followed by a squall, bringing down the temperature after a hot day, the weatherman said.

The high-velocity wind swept through Delhi around 11.15 PM, an official at the Safdarjung observatory said.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) thunderstorm accompanied with light rain and gusty winds would occur in Delhi and adjoining NCR including Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar Gurugram, Bagpat, Meerut and Ghaziabad during next two to three hours.

The Delhi government and Delhi traffic police have also issued directives following the alert.

Residents have also been advised to stay indoors and take precaution if going out.

In the wake of the storm, all evening schools will also remain shut tomorrow in Delhi while Haryana had already announced school holidays for the first two days of the week. All schools in Ghaziabad district will also remain shut tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, the IMD issued a mild thunderstorm and dust storm warning for the next 48 hours in New Delhi and its neighbouring states.

"Till tomorrow there's a possibility of a dust storm and thunderstorm in Delhi," IMD official, Devendra Pradhan said.

The government has also asked other schools to not hold outdoor activities and extracurricular activities between 3 pm to 7 pm during which winds speed is expected to remain high.

Meanwhile, dust storm also hit parts of Chandigarh and parts of Punjab and Haryana. There were reports of power supply getting disrupted at some places in the states.

Rains also lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

The IMD has also issued a warning of heavy rain and thunderstorm tomorrow in north India.

According to weather department scientists, the thunderstorm was triggered by high temperatures in Northern India and a western disturbance over north Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir and winds from the Bay of Bengal.

At least 124 people were killed and more than 300 others injured in five states due to dust storms, thunderstorms and lightning last week.