Dust storm hits Delhi again; more coming, warns IMD; top 10 developments

The met has issued a weather warning for May 16-20, and also said that thunderstorms accompanied by winds at 50-70 kmph could will hit 'isolated places' in Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha today

Days after a thunderstorm and dust storms hit Delhi-NCR, Delhiites again woke up to a dust storm on Wednesday morning as strong winds and rain lashed the national capital in early hours.

Worse, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that several towns of North India -- Aligarh, Meerut, Panipat, Bagpat, Alwar, Rohtak and their adjoining areas would be hit by thunderstorms and rains before noon.

Over the past week, thunderstorms and dust storms have wreaked havoc across northern and eastern parts of the country. Reports suggest that the number of casualties could be anywhere between 80 and 100. Experts have opined that the freak weather phenomenon is due to a western disturbance that originates in the Mediterranean Sea and brings rainfall to northwestern India.

Western disturbance is a normal phenomenon that can be observed over the western Himalayas and north Indian plains from October to March. However, what is unusual is its occurrence in April-May, several senior IMD scientists have been reported as saying.

Also Read :Thunderstorms Claim 80 Lives; Adityanath Chairs Disaster Management Meeting

The met department on Wednesday issued a weather warning for May 16-20 and said that thunderstorms accompanied by winds at 50-70 kmph could hit 'isolated places' in Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha on Wednesday morning.

Earlier, the department had said that the storms would last for 48-72 hours.

Here are the top 10 developments around the thunderstorms/dust storms that have hit India over the past week:

1. Thunderstorm to strike again today: A thunderstorm is expected to hit Jind, Rohtak, Panipat, Alwar, Bagpat, Meerut, Aligarh and their adjoining areas during the next two hours, the Indian Meteorological Department has said, according to a report by news agency ANI.

2. IMD issues warnings for next 4 days: The meteorological department has issued warnings for the next four days. The notification says West Bengal and Odisha will see storms today.

3. Delhi wakes up to dust storm: A massive dust storm hit the national capital in the wee hours of Wednesday. Strong winds, accompanied by dust, lashed the city while bringing a sudden decline in the temperature.

4. 80 deaths so far: The latest dust storm came days after a deadly storm on May 13-14 claimed over 80 lives across five states in the country. At that time, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had said that the thunderstorm will continue for the next 48 to 72 hours.

As many as 80 were killed in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and east Uttar Pradesh due to thunderstorms and lightning with Uttar Pradesh alone recording 51 deaths.

5. 10,000 people marked safe on Facebook safety tool: Facebook on Tuesday said nearly 10,000 people have marked themselves safe till now, using the social network's "Safety Check" feature that was activated on Monday following storms across India. The crisis response tool, which is activated when a lot of people in an affected area post about an incident, can also help users check to see if their friends in an affected area are safe too.

6. Compensation for victims in Muzaffarnagar: District authorities have distributed ex-gratia of Rs 400,000 each to family members of two persons killed in the district in the recent storm.

Read More : Dust strom in Delhi

Thunderstorms kill 41 in 4 states; air, road traffic hit in Delhi: Updates

Dust storms and thunderstorms wreaked havoc on Sunday in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and the national capital, leaving behind a trail of destruction

Dust storms and thunderstorms, which hit several states of the country on Sunday, claimed at least 41 lives in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.

Uttar Pradesh bore the maximum brunt of the thunderstorm and hail that left at least 18 people dead, while 12 people, including four children, were killed in West Bengal. Nine people lost their lives in Andhra Pradesh and two in Delhi, officials said.

Thunderstorms also occurred at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The devastation comes over 10 days after storms hit UP, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Punjab, killing 134 people and injuring over 400. Accounting for 80 deaths, UP was the worst affected, with most of the deaths occurring in the Agra district in the western part of the state.

Subsequently, on May 9, several parts of Uttar Pradesh were struck by a severe storm that left 18 dead and 27 others injured.

Here are the top 10 developments around the thunderstorms and dust storms that hit several parts of the country:

1) Thunderstorm kills 18 in UP: Thunderstorm and hail that hit parts of North India on Sunday claimed at least 18 lives in Uttar Pradesh.

At least 28 people were injured and around 37 houses were damaged in the hail and thunderstorm, Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Information) Awanish Awasthi said.

Five deaths have been reported from Kasganj, three from Bulandshahr and two each from Ghaziabad and Saharanpur. Apart from this, one death each has been reported from Etawah, Aligarh, Kannauj, Hapur, Noida and Sambhal.

2) Twenty-three killed in West Bengal, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh: Officials said 12 people, including four children, were on Sunday killed in West Bengal after lightning struck them amid heavy rains. Further, Andhra Pradesh saw nine deaths, while Delhi witnessed two deaths.

Five deaths were reported from the Howrah district, two deaths each were reported from West Midnapore, North 24-Parganas, and Nadia districts, and one from the Murshidabad district, an official of the West Bengal disaster management department said.

3) Flights diverted in Delhi: The sudden change of weather in Delhi forced airport authorities to divert at least 10 domestic flights on Sunday, an official said. Vistara's Srinagar-Delhi flight was diverted to Amritsar and its Lucknow-Delhi flight was sent to Lucknow due to the inclement weather.

4) Dust storm hits traffic in Delhi: According to a senior Delhi Traffic Police officer, traffic was affected in Lutyens' Delhi, West and South Delhi.

Traffic was affected due to the uprooting of around 70 trees. About 25 trees that have fallen on roads are yet to be removed, the traffic police said.

All traffic police cranes were deployed while disaster management vehicles of traffic and municipal bodies were also being involved in removing bigger trees which were uprooted, they said.

Read More: Thunderstroms in UP

Another dust storm may soon hit UP, Rajasthan; toll at 109, Agra worst hit

There is a high probability that winds will intensify in next 48 hours in Rajasthan, which may lead to another dust storm. It will affect areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan border

A severe dust storm followed by thunder showers hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan overnight, killing more than 100 people and leaving a trail of destruction. Houses collapsed and trees and poles were uprooted in the storm that also led to power outages. In Uttar Pradesh, the high-intensity dust storm left 73 people dead and 91 injured. In Rajasthan, 36 were killed, taking the combined death toll to 109. About 100 people were injured as winds over 100 kmph hit the region around 7 pm on Wednesday.

In UP, Agra district was the worst hit, accounting for 43 deaths and injuries to 35 others, officials said. Besides Agra, the other affected UP districts were Bijnor, Bareli, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao. In Rajasthan, Dholpur district was the worst affected with 17 killed.

Hemant Kumar Gera, Secretary, Disaster Management and Relief, said contigency funds have been released to the respective district administration. He said Rs 400,000 will be given to family members of deceased, Rs 200,000 to persons sustaining 60 per cent injuries and Rs 60,000 to people with 40 to 50 per cent injuries.

Expressing sorrow at the loss of lives due to dust storms in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today directed officials to coordinate with states to ensure speedy relief and rehabilitation of those affected.

"Saddened by the loss of lives due to dust storms in various parts of India. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted quoting Modi.

ALSO READ: Nearly 100 killed in dust storm in UP, Rajasthan

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje expressed grief over the calamity and said authorities concerned in the districts have been directed to ensure all possible help to victims. "Condolence for families who lost their loved ones," she said on Twitter.

Taking note of the havoc caused by the dust storm in UP, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officers concerned to personally monitor relief operations and provide all necessary medical facilities to the affected. He also said that no laxity will be tolerated in providing succour to the needy.

Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, announced a compensation of up to Rs 400,000 to the next of kin of the deceased in the state.

Those injured will receive Rs 50,000 each.

Apart from Rajasthan and UP, a squall and dust storm followed by heavy rains lashed the national capital and the National Capital Region (NCR), too, bringing the minimum temperature to 22 degrees Celsius. However, the maximum temperature touched 38.3 degrees Celsius. The gusty winds toppled and fell trees at many places, blocking portions of roads, causing traffic jams in several areas.

Here are the top updates on heavy rains, dust storms and squalls in Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh:

1) Another dust storm may hit UP and Rajasthan: IMD official: Another dust storm may hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the next 48 hours due to cyclonic circulation formation in the region, a MeT official said today, reported PTI.

The warning came even as the two north Indian states were reeling under the impact of a severe overnight dust storm that killed nearly 100 people and left a trail of destruction.

"There is a high probability that winds will intensify in the next 48 hours in Rajasthan, which may lead to another dust storm. It will affect areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan border, especially Karauli and Dholpur," Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Himanshu Sharma told PTI.

Satellite images have shown wind pressure developing in parts of Rajasthan, which may lead to high-intensity winds and dust storm.

The meteorological department has warned that a dust storm, rainfall or thunderstorm may occur at some areas in Bikaner, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Jhunjhunu, Swai Madhopur, Sikar, Sriganganagar and Jaisalmer districts.

Yogi Adityanath announces compensation: The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has announced a compensation of up to Rs 400,000 to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for each of the injured in the heavy rainfall and storm across the state.

2) Dust storm kills 73 in Uttar Pradesh: In Uttar Pradesh alone, the high-intensity dust storm left 73 people dead, 91 injured and 105 domesticated animals killed with Agra, Bijnor, Bareli, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao among the worst affected.

The storms also caused widespread damage to private and public property, as many houses were left battered and trees uprooted.Electricity connection in many areas was also severed as power lines and electricity poles were damaged.

Read full story:  Dust storm in UP

Dust storm, rains kill 50 in Uttar Pradesh, 27 in Rajasthan: Top updates

Apart from Rajasthan and UP, a squall and dust storm followed by heavy rains lashed the national capital and the National Capital Region

 

 

A dust storm hit Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, leaving 40-50 people dead; Agra was the most affected district. In Rajasthan, a high-intensity squall followed by thunder showers hit parts of the state overnight, leaving at least 27 people dead and nearly 100 injured.
Apart from Rajasthan and UP, a squall and dust storm followed by heavy rains lashed the national capital and the National Capital Region (NCR), too, bringing the minimum temperature to 22 degrees Celsius. However, the maximum temperature touched 38.3 degrees Celsius. The gusty winds toppled and fell trees at many places, blocking portions of roads, causing traffic jams in several areas.
Here are the top updates on heavy rains, dust storms and squalls in Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh:
1) Dust storm kills 40-50 in Uttar Pradesh: Close to 50 people have been killed after a dust storm hit Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Agra was the most affected district, State Revenue and Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar told news agencies, adding that relief would be given within 24 hours to those affected.

 

2) Rajasthan death toll rises to 27: In Rajasthan, houses collapsed and electricity poles and trees were uprooted as the severe dust storm swept the Matsya region. Two of those killed in Dholpur were from Agra in Uttar Pradesh.
"So far, 27 people have died due to the disaster – 12 in Bharatpur, 10 in Dholpur and 5 in Alwar. The squall was reported mainly in three districts," said Hemant Kumar Gera, state secretary for disaster management and relief.
3) Close to 100 injured in Rajasthan: Gera said that 102 people were reported to be injured in the disaster – 20 in Alwar, 32 in Bharatpur, and 50 in Dholpur. "A few are undergoing primary treatment while others were discharged. One critical patient from Dholpur was referred to Jaipur," he said.
A detailed report of the disaster was awaited, even as relief and rescue teams had been pressed into service to clear debris and restore power supply, he said.
4) Relief of Rs 400,000 for the kin of deceased: Gera said contingency funds had been released to the administration of affected districts. He said Rs 400,000 (Rs 4 lakh) would be given to family members of the deceased, Rs 200,000 (Rs 2 lakh) to persons who have sustained 60 per cent injuries, and Rs 60,000 to people with 40 to 50 per cent injuries.
5) CM Vasundhara Raje assures all possible help: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje expressed grief over the calamity and said authorities concerned had been directed to ensure all possible help to victims. "Have directed ministers and officials concerned in affected areas to begin relief work immediately," she wrote on Twitter.

READ MORE:  DUST STORM IN UTTAR PRADES