New Delhi

A powerful dust storm swept through Delhi on Friday evening, disrupting normal life, grounding flights and prompting weather alerts across northern India. The storm, accompanied by gusty winds, caused trees to fall in several areas of the national capital, led to road traffic disruptions and forced residents to shut their windows as dust-laden winds swept across neighbourhoods. This marked the second consecutive day in the national capital, which was hit by such intense weather.

According to airport sources, the dust storm significantly affected flight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, with 15 flights being diverted and several more delayed due to low visibility and turbulence caused by the storm.

"Poor weather, caused by heavy thunderstorms and gusty winds, has affected flight operations across parts of Northern India. Some of our flights to and from Delhi are being delayed or diverted, which is likely to impact our overall flight schedule. We are closely monitoring the situation and are doing our best to minimise the disruption. We advise our guests to check the latest status of their flights at https://airindia.com/in/en/manage/flight-status.html before heading to the airport," stated a travel advisory issued by Air India in response to the severe weather conditions.

The dust storm that hit Delhi also provided some relief from the scorching heat that had gripped the region earlier in the week. However, it also brought with it widespread inconvenience. Fallen trees and large branches blocked several roads across the city, slowing down traffic and requiring cleanup operations by civic authorities. The sudden weather change also impacted outdoor commercial activities, as street vendors and open markets struggled against the strong winds and flying debris.

While Delhi grappled with the immediate effects of the dust storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a series of weather alerts for Himachal Pradesh, highlighting a broader regional weather disturbance. The IMD announced an Orange Alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and hailstorms in four districts of Himachal Pradesh — Kullu, Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba. Additionally, Yellow Alerts were issued for Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts, indicating moderately intense weather activity.

“Thunderstorms, lightning, and hailstorms are likely in parts of Himachal Pradesh. An Orange Alert has been issued for districts with more intense activity, while Yellow Alerts are in place for areas expecting moderate weather events. People are advised to stay indoors during severe weather,” said IMD scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma.

Over the past 24 hours, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Shimla and Hamirpur districts experienced thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by light to moderate rainfall. The highest recorded rainfall was in Gohar (Mandi district) with 19 mm, followed by Pandokhar (also in Mandi) with 14 mm. Other areas reported light showers. Hailstorm activity was reported in Banjar (Kullu), Sundernagar (Mandi) and parts of Shimla.

Just days earlier, regions like Sundernagar, Bhuntar and Dharamshala were reeling under heatwave conditions, but the recent precipitation has led to a noticeable drop in temperatures by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius, bringing them closer to seasonal averages. On Friday, thunderstorm and lightning activity was again reported in Chamba, Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan and Shimla, with light morning rain in multiple areas.

The IMD expects this volatile weather to persist through the day, especially in Kullu, Mandi, Kangra and Chamba, where there remains a high likelihood of hailstorms. Residents in affected regions have been urged to stay indoors and take precautionary measures to avoid accidents or injury during the severe weather events.

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With Delhi and its neighbouring regions experiencing significant weather-related disruptions for the second day in a row, emergency services and civic agencies are on high alert. Authorities have begun clearing fallen trees and debris from roads in Delhi, while airline operators are adjusting schedules in real-time to accommodate ongoing changes due to weather unpredictability.

As the weather system continues to affect a wide swath of northern India, from the urban expanse of Delhi to the mountainous terrain of Himachal Pradesh, residents are being advised to stay informed through official channels and exercise caution.

(With ANI inputs)