Dust storm lashes Delhi-NCR on Monday, thunderstorm may hit today; updates

At least 124 people killed and 300 injured due to dust storms and thunderstorms in 5 states, mostly in UP and Rajasthan. Haryana schools remain closed for 2 days. Find latest updates on IMD forecast

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued an alert forecasting that several parts of north India could witness thunderstorm and squall today with winds gusting up to 50-70 kilometers per hour.

The IMD issued an amber-coloured alert, indicating severe weather, for parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, western Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim and West Bengal. Several parts of these states could witness thunderstorm and squall with winds gusting up to 50-70 kilometers per hour, the alert said.

There are four types of colour codes signifying the level of caution -- green (which means no action), yellow (situation to be watched), amber (government agencies to be prepared for severe weather) and red (action needed by the agencies). A western disturbance runs over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, while there is a cyclonic circulation over northeast Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, and this will bring light to moderate rainfall in north India, Mritunjay Mohapatra, Additional Director General, IMD, said. He, however, said. The intensity is expected to be less in comparison to the thunderstorm that occurred on May 2.

A deadly thunderstorm with winds gusting up to 100 kmph had hit Rajasthan and west Uttar Pradesh on May 2, killing over 100 people.
 

Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds very likely at isolated places over Punjab, Assam , Meghalaya , Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, west Madhya Pradesh, east Uttar Pradesh, east Rajasthan, coastal and south interior Karnataka and Kerela, the IMD said in its alert today. 

Here are the top 10 developments around the recent weather conditions, today's weather forecast by IMD and the likelihood of thunderstorms in North India according:

1. Delhi govt puts search, rescue teams on standby: The Delhi government has put search and rescue teams on standby in every district following the meteorological department's warning about heavy rains and thunderstorm. The revenue department of the government has issued directions to all district officers and said water and power utilities would also keep restoration teams ready. "The district and sub-district search and rescue teams have been put on standby," a senior official of the department said.

2. More thunderstorms likely to hit India till May 11: IMD on Monday 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," ANI quoted IMD official Devendra Pradhan as saying.

Pradhan also said that a mild thunderstorm warning had been issued in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. And, a dust storm warning had been issued for Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

"These thunderstorms and dust storms will be moderate, and the wind speed for these days will be in the range of 50 to 60 km per hour," added Pradhan.

3. Rains in Chandigarh: Chandigarh and its surrounding areas witnessed early morning rains on Monday. The city authorities are on a high alert following the storm warning issued by the met department.

4. Haryana schools closed: The Haryana government has announced that all schools will remain closed in the state on Monday and Tuesday.

State Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma on Sunday said the decision has been taken in view of the MeT Department's warning.

The weatherman has forecast thunderstorm with squall at isolated places in the state on May 7 and thunderstorm with squall and hail at some places on May 8.

Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Departmentissues advisory: In view of the warning, the Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Department, in an advisory, has suggested safety tips to be adopted in case of thunderstorms, dust storms and squall.

A spokesperson of the department said there is no need to panic and people should follow the precautions, pay special attention to children and senior citizens.

All departments have been directed to stay alert, he said.


 

5. Thunderstorms, rains likely in 13 states, 2 UTs on Monday: At least 13 states and two Union Territories are likely to witness thunderstorms accompanied by squall, hail and heavy rains on Monday (today), the Home Ministry said.

Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely at isolated places in Uttarakhand and Punjab, while some places over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are likely to witness heavy rains, a Home Ministry official said quoting an Indian Meteorological Department advisory.

Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh.

Dust storm and thunderstorm are also likely at isolated places in West Rajasthan, the official said.

6. Rain leads to a drop in temperature in Himachal Pradesh: Stormy weather conditions prevailed in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday leading to a significant drop in temperature.

Minimum temperatures dropped by three to five degrees during past 24 hours and Keylong recorded a low of 3.7 degrees Celsius while Kalpa and Manali recorded the minimum temperatures at 4.6 degrees Celsius and 6.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The MeT department here warned of thunderstorm accompanied by squall and hailstorm in the mid and lower hills on May 7 and 8. It predicted rains or thundershowers in the mid and lower hills and rains and snow in the higher hills till May 10.

7. Pradhan seeks support for storm-hit Odisha farmers: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday requested Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh to extend all possible support to the farmers affected by the untimely Nor'wester in Odisha.

He said that widespread loss of crops and life in many districts of Odisha have occurred as a result of the untimely Nor'wester (Kalabaishakhi) spell of rains and hailstorm which swept many parts of the state over the past few days.

8. 7 injured, 200 houses collapsed in storm in West Bengal: Seven persons were injured and about 200 houses were collapsed in a storm in Nadia district on Sunday, District Magistrate Sumit Gupta said.

The storm with a speed of about 90 to 100 km per hour lashed places such as Ranaghat, Hanskhali and Krishnagar.

While seven persons were injured in house collapse or by uprooted trees, Gupta said.

9. Crops damaged, Mango prices might go up: The thunderstorms that stuck Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, a few days earlier, destroyed almost 30-40 of the standing mango crop in the main growing districts of Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Muzaffarnagar, Bareli, Rampur and Sitapur.

Traders and farmers said this might push up mango prices in the domestic market this year as Uttar Pradesh is one of the biggest suppliers of mangoes in the country.

However, there have no report of any large-scale damage to the standing wheat crop except in a few pockets in and around Agra as most of the produce has already been harvested.

10. Prime Minister approves an ex-gratia of Rs 200,000 for the kin of those killed: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, approved an ex gratia payment of Rs 200,000 each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the dust storm in various parts of north India on May 2.

An official release said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also approved Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured due to the storm.