Dust storm, rain lash city; more likely today
A dust storm followed by rain was witnessed in parts of Delhi on Saturday. Several areas in Delhi’s central, south, southwest, north zones and parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), including Noida, experienced rain, thunderstorms and dust storms.
In its latest weather notification, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, “In continuation of the previous weather alert, dust storms followed by thunderstorms with light to moderate rainfall, lightning and gusty winds of 40-60 kmph are very likely to occur across Delhi and NCR in the coming hours.” Some parts of Delhi-NCR, including Noida, also reported trees uprooting due to the storm.
The maximum temperature in the national capital settled at 40.8 degrees celsius, 0.4 notch above normal. The minimum temperature on Saturday was 24.3 degrees Celsius, 2.2 notches below normal.
The IMD has forecast a thunderstorm with rain for Sunday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 42 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) data, which updates daily by 4 pm, was not shared by the Central Pollution Control Board. However, the hourly data at 6 pm showed the AQI in the “moderate” category with a reading of 157.
Roof damaged at New Ashok Nagar RRTS station
Meanwhile, a section of the steel roof at New Ashok Nagar station on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor was damaged due to heavy rainfall accompanied by a strong windstorm on Saturday, an official statement.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) said in a statement. The incident occurred during a sudden spell of intense weather, prompting authorities to halt operations at the station as a precautionary measure.
“Due to an intense windstorm on Saturday, a portion of the tin roof at the New Ashok Nagar Namo Bharat Station was damaged. As a precautionary measure, operations at the station were immediately stopped for the time being,” the statement said. The station will remain closed to the public until further notice, the corporation said.
