Massive dust storm disrupts flights

NEW DELHI: A severe dust storm hit the national capital Delhi Wednesday evening after days of an abnormal sizzling heat wave. The temperature in the national capital had touched 48 degrees on Monday, the highest ever recorded in June. Operations were stopped at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after the dust storm struck the city, a news agency reported.

The weather department had, however, said Tuesday 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 said.

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 degrees at 19.00 hours. All thanks to #Duststorm and #rain," he tweeted.

The impact of Cyclone Vayu, due to hit the Gujarat coastline Thursday, could play a role in temperature dropping, a senior weather department official had said.