Dust Storm in Delhi, Day 2: Here's everything you should know

For the second day in a row, Delhi and adjoining areas have remained engulfed in a thick blanket of dust. The air quality in the national capital remained on the 'severe' and 'hazardous' level in many areas because of a ground-level dust storm in western India.

Here're the latest updates:
The wind blowing in the region has contributed to the spread of dust particles. According to the Met department, wind speed reaching up to 35 kmph is predicted for Thursday in Delhi. The dust-laden winds have created a haze in Delhi-NCR since yesterday.

An official of the department said the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 41 degrees Celsius.


A Sudhakar, CPCB member-secretary, warned residents that the pollution level is expected remain like this for 3-4 days and people are requested to avoid staying outdoors for more than 3 to 4 hours.

As per CPCB's website, the PM10 level was over 800 at 10 AM today. According to AQICN, on Thursday morning, PM10 (particles with the diameter less than 10mm) level was beyond severe at 778 in Delhi-NCR area and 824 in Delhi particularly, leading to hazy conditions and limiting visibility. As per the AQI level - from 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 is 'satisfactory', 101-200 is 'moderate', 201-300 is 'poor', 301-400 is 'very poor', and 401 and above is 'severe' or 'hazardous'.

Strong-anti cyclonic winds, blowing from Rajasthan, are the reason behind the worsening air quality. The current conditions are likely to last till Friday.

The dust storm has also increased the temperature in the area. of According to Skymet Weather, the dust has layered the atmosphere, it is in turn, restricting the escape of the longwave radiation due to which it is trapped within the atmosphere, resulting in rising the night temperatures of parts of Northwest India.

The dust storm is also wrecking havoc in other parts of norther India. PTI quoting officials has reported that seven persons have died and 21 got injured in Uttar Pradesh due to the storms. "Seven persons were killed in dust storm in the past 24 hours.While three each died in Gonda and Sitapur, one person was killed in Faizabad," an official spokesman said here. While 11 persons were injured in Faizabad, 10 were injured in Sitapur, he said. Taking note of this, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had ordered district magistrates concerned to ensure proper treatment to the injured.