Strong dust winds swept across Delhi and its surrounding areas on Friday evening, as a thick layer of clouds enveloped the city. The weather department has forecast rain for the national capital in the coming hours. Adverse weather conditions have disrupted flight operations at Delhi Airport, with 15 flights diverted so far.

One person died and two others were injured when the wall of an under-construction building collapsed during a strong storm in East Delhi.

Branches of trees fell due to strong winds in several parts of the national capital, including prominent locations such as Mandi House and Delhi Gate. Visuals showed a motorcycle crushed under a fallen tree trunk, while traffic was disrupted in another location due to debris on the road.

Showed powerful winds whipping up dust and debris, partially shrouding roads and buildings, causing inconvenience to the public.

In view of the sudden change in weather, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for the city.

Officials forecast moderate to severe thunderstorm activity, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, over Delhi, adjoining areas of the National Capital Region (NCR), Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh for the next three hours.

The weather department has advised residents to take necessary precautions and avoid staying in open areas during this period, as possible hailstorms may cause injuries to people and livestock. Vulnerable structures could suffer partial damage, while strong winds and hail may also lead to potential damage to plantations, agricultural produce, and standing crops.

Gusty winds with speeds ranging from 40 to 60 km/h are very likely to affect the entire Delhi and NCR region, and wind speeds may reach up to 80 km/h at a few locations, according to officials.

This was the second consecutive day of dust-laden winds and cloud cover in Delhi, which had been experiencing heatwave-like conditions.

Source: India Today