Severe dust storm & strong winds hit Delhi, NCR; 28 flights diverted

Dust storm accompanied by strong winds hit Delhi and its adjoining areas this evening. Wind speed upto 70 -80 kmph has been recorded. Moderate to heavy rains in Delhi brought some respite from weeks of sweltering heat.

According to ANI, 28 flights have been diverted due to thunderstorm and rain in Delhi. An airport official said the diversions took place between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Normalcy was restored after that.

Earlier in the afternoon, the met department had issued a notice to this effect.


Rains dropped the temperature to 34 degrees Celsius, six degrees less than the maximum recorded on Friday, according to private weather forecaster Skymet.

These are visuals from Chhatarpur area, where a sudden change in weather brought some respite from the heat.


These visuals are from RK Puram area, Delhi.

Dust storm & strong winds hit Delhi, visuals from RK Puram area. https://t.co/aNbEpNaBRi

— ANI (@ANI) 1528545539000

Friday's maximum temperature settled at 40.5 degrees, the season's average, while the minimum was recorded at 32 degrees, four notches above the season's average. The humidity was recorded at 73 per cent at 8.30 a.m.

Earlier today, Noida (Uttar Pradesh) experienced a brief spell of rain around 12.30 in the afternoon. The temperature has reduced by a few degrees after today's downpour.

In western India, Mumbai received a fresh round of rainfall today, days after the weather department forecast heavy downpour in the city over the weekend.

According to an official at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rain, thundershowers along with strong winds were expected on Sunday.

(With inputs from IANS)