Flights Halted, Diverted At Delhi Airport After Severe Dust Storm
NEW DELHI: A severe dust storm has hit the national capital Delhi this evening after days of an abnormal sizzling heat wave. Temperature in the national capital had touched 48 degrees on Monday, the highest-ever recorded in June. Operations have currently been stopped at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after the dust storm struck the city, reported news agency ANI.
The weather department had however said yesterday that temperatures were expected to dip. Private weather agency Skymet said heavy rain was expected across the National Capital Region.
"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," a senior Met department official told news agency ANI.
Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Skymet, said in a tweet that the national capital's temperature dropped by seven degrees in a span of just half an hour.
"At 18.30 it was 40, dropped to 33 degree at 19.00 hours. All thanks to #Duststorm and #rain," he tweeted.
The impact of Cyclone Vayu, due to hit the Gujarat coastline tomorrow, could play a role in temperature dropping, a senior weather department official had said yesterday.
"Definitely, just the way Delhi is getting affected by the western disturbances, Cyclone Vayu will have an impact on the weather conditions. However, a dust storm or thunderstorm can be predicted in the upcoming days in the northern region," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The country is currently in the throes of the worst heat wave it has experienced, with four cities in North India, Delhi included, recording sky-high temperatures.
Rajasthan's Churu is the hottest among these cities, crossing 50 degrees twice, 8 degrees above its normal temperature at this time of the year.
Banda and Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh come a close second and third, at 49.2 and 48.9 degrees respectively.
(Inputs from NDTV.com)
