North India sees weather change: Flash floods kill 2 in J&K, Delhi hit by dust storm

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jun 12 , 2019 : While western India braces itself for the impact of Cyclone Vayu, the national capital Delhi heaved a sigh of relief as a dust storm hit the Delhi NCR region, bringing down the blistering temperature in the city, Yahoo reported.

 

The heavy dust storm was also witnessed in neighbouring Gurgaon and Noida.

The Palam observatory recorded a high of 43.4 degrees Celsius and a low of 32.4 degrees on Wednesday.

A thick haze was hanging over the city due to the dust storm, affecting visibility.

In fact, the dust storm was so impactful that it brought down the temperature in Delhi by 7 degrees in a span of 30 minutes.

The dust storm also impacted flight operations at the Delhi airport. Operations were halted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport as many flights were diverted and delayed. Operations later resumed at the airport after a break of around 30 minutes.

A MeT official said thunderstorm and light rains are also expected because of a western disturbance and it is likely to bring down the temperature.

Private weather forecaster Skymet Weather reported that the dust storm would be followed by moderate to heavy rains over most parts of Delhi NCR. "According to weathermen, intense rains are likely to lash entire Delhi NCR, with few places recording hail storm as well. Winds would be of damage potential thus people are expected to exercise caution," reported Skymet Weather.

The Indian Meteorological Department had predicted thunderstorm with dust waging gusty winds at the speed of 70-80 kmph will hit Delhi.

IMD also predicted rain over South-west Delhi,South Delhi Faridabad, Gurugram, Jahangirabad, Khurja, Hathras, Nuh, Palwal, Bhiwadi, Rewari, Bawal,Kosali,Sohna, Aurangabad,Hapur, Etah, Sahaswan,Aligarh,Jattari,Khair,Farukhnagar,Noida,Ghaziabad and adjoining area of Hodal on Wednesday.

Many netizens in the NCR area took to social media to post pictures and videos of the dust storm in the region. Many attributed the weather changes to Cyclone Vayu.

According to the weather department, the very severe cyclonic storm Cyclone Vayu is expected to have some impact on the weather in the capital.

According to Kuldeep Shrivastava, regional head, MET, "This respite is mainly because of the effect of an active western disturbance which is affecting the upper Himalayan region and South Westerly winds which are coming from the Arabian Sea and hitting Delhi NCR in association with Cyclone Vayu hitting the west coast of our country. These winds being moisture laden have resulted in a dip in the mercury. We’re expecting a relief from the heat wave condition as the temperature will remain below 45 degrees celcius mark. However, a slight rise in temperature is expected on 14th and 15th. After 15th, the temperatures will start dipping because of the cloud cover."

On Tuesday, the national capital experienced heatwave conditions as maximum temperature touched 44.5 degree, which was five notches above the season’s average.

On Monday, the mercury in Delhi had crossed 48.0 degree Celsius, breaking the all-time record of being the hottest day in June.

Previously an official from the Indian Meteorological Department had told news agency ANI, "Earlier, the wind used to come from the western side of Rajasthan. However, the direction of the wind has changed. As a result, we have witnessed a temperature fall of two-three degrees in all the North Indian states. It is expected to continue for the next three days and there will be a full respite to the heat wave in the region."

DUST STORM HITS RAJASTHAN TOO

A dust storm and light rainfall in parts of Rajasthan on Wednesday brought respite for residents from scorching heat as the mercury came down a few notches, a meteorological department official said.

Jaipur received 3.2 mm rainfall. The maximum temperature in the state capital was 42.8 degrees Celsius, he said.

Churu, however, remained the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius, followed by 46.3 degrees Celsius each in Sri Ganganagar and Bikaner, he said.

The maximum temperature in Jaisalmer was 45.4 degrees Celsius and 45.1 degrees Celsius in Barmer.

The weatherman has forecast another dust storm with a wind speed of 40-50 km/hr at several places in the state during the next 24 hours.

FLASH FLOODS KILL 2 IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Heavy rains have led to flash floods in parts of Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir while a storm in Bandipora district left two women dead, officials said Wednesday.

There was also fresh snowfall in Sonamarg and other higher reaches of Kashmir on Wednesday.

Shareefa Begum, 33, and 18-year-old Mubeena Bano died after a tree fell on them during a storm Tuesday night at Chandaji in Bandipora district, they said.

Heavy overnight rains overnight in the plains have resulted in flash floods in Tangmarg and Pattan areas of Baramulla district, the officials said.

"Fresh snowfall was witnessed in Sonamarg, higher reaches of Gulmarg and Pahalgam this morning," the officials said.