Thunderstorm likely in Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, J&K today & tomorrow: Updates

India Meteorological Department (IMD) said dust storm and heavy rain likely at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, western Rajasthan and states in North-east

In a fresh advisory, the Home Ministry quoting India Meteorological Department (IMD) said thunderstorm, along with rain, is likely in some places of Delhi and adjoining NCR on Sunday, while 13 states will be affected with the same, along with squall, hail on Monday.

The home ministry noted that 124 people were killed while more than 300 injured in five states due to thunderstorm and lightning in the last two days. The maximum casualty was reported in Uttar Pradesh where 73 people were killed, while 91 others were injured. Most of the deaths and injuries in the state took place in Agra region, a home ministry spokesperson said.

In Rajasthan, altogether 35 people were killed and 206 injured, while eight people were killed in Telangana, six in Uttarakhand and two in Punjab. Nearly 100 people were injured in Telangana, Uttarakhand and Punjab.

Following the thunderstorms, power supply was cut off in many areas as squall uprooted trees and snapped electricity cables. At least 12,000 electric poles were uprooted and 2,500 transformers damaged in the affected states in the last two days.

Here are the top 10 developments around recent weather conditions and the likelihood of today's weather and thunderstorm in North India according to IMD:

1. Thunderstorm likely in Delhi, NCR: Thunderstorm along with rain is likely in some places of Delhi and adjoining NCR on Sunday, the Home Ministry said.

Quoting an advisory of the India Meteorological Department, a Home Ministry spokesperson said thunderstorm and rain would occur over some places in Delhi and adjoining NCR, including Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Khurja, Greater Noida, and Bulandshahr on Sunday.

2. IMD forecasts hail, heavy rain in 13 states: Thunderstorms accompanied by squall, hail and heavy rains are likely to occur in at least 13 states and two Union Territories across the country on Monday, the Home Ministry said.

Thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail are very likely at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh while thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely tomorrow at isolated places in Uttarakhand and Punjab.

"Rainfall is expected in many regions of the state between 6 and 8 May, and a warning for thunderstorm and strong winds on 7 and 8 May has been issued for Shimla, Solan, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra and Una districts," said the Director IMD Himachal Pradesh, Manmohan Singh, about the possible weather situation in the state.

The IMD also forecasted Light rain to thundershowers at isolated places during next 48-72 hours in Punjab.

Heavy rains are likely on Monday at isolated places over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, a Home Ministry official said on Sunday quoting an Indian Meteorological Department advisory.

Dust storm and thunderstorm are also likely at isolated places in West Rajasthan as well, the official said.

3. Rs 4,00,000 ex-gratia to kin of thunderstorm victims in UP: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath on Saturday announced Rs 4,00,000 ex-gratia each for the kin of those killed during Wednesday's thunderstorm. He, along with other officials, reached here and interacted with the victims and reviewed the relief measures being taken by the district administration.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath takes an aerial survey of the areas that were affected by the dust storms. | Photo: ANI

The chief minister said, "Relief has been provided to the affected. Kin of those who died have been given Rs 4,00,000 as ex-gratia and the injured are given free treatment in hospitals."

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister cut-short the campaigning in Karnataka on May 4 and headed for his state to meet the victims after facing a backlash from the Opposition.

4. UP Deputy CM meets victims of the storm: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Friday visited a number in villages in Agra, where more than 50 people died and around 60 were injured in Wednesday thunderstorm, and distributed compensation, officials said. Sharma visited various villages in Khairagarh and Fatehabad tehsils to meet members of bereaved families and distributed cheques. In the afternoon, he visited the SN Medical College hospital to meet the injured and promised all help from the state government. Treatment and medicines are free, hospital authorities said.

5. Jaipur doppler radar dysfunctional when dust storm hit UP, Rajasthan: The doppler radar in the Jaipur Met office, a critical component in the accurate forecasting of weather events, was not working the night of May 2 when a high velocity dust storm cut a swathe of destruction through parts of Rajasthan, killing at least 35 people, an IMD official said. In fact, according to media reports, Met department's radar hasn't been working for a month.

6. MHA says 124 people were killed in 2 days: The Ministry of Home Affairs noted that 124 people were killed while more than 300 injured in five states due to thunderstorm and lightning. The maximum casualty was reported in Uttar Pradesh where 73 people were killed, while 91 others were injured. Most of the deaths and injuries in the state took place in Agra region, a home ministry spokesperson said.

7. Modi announces ex-gratia for storm victims: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved an ex-gratia of Rs 200,000 each from Prime Ministers National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to dust storm in various parts of north India on May 2. An official release said that the Prime Minister has also approved Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured due to storm.

8. After the storm, grief and disbelief echo through Agra's villages: Ram Bharose stares blankly at the dark, still damp patch of earth where his son and nephew bled to death two nights ago, when a high-intensity dust storm reduced to a crumpled heap his home and his family's hopes for the future.



Walls crumbled, roofs collapsed and tin sheets flew through the air as winds of over 100 kmph raged through parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on the night of May 2, killing more than 100 people in the two states. More than 40 people died in Agra district alone, officials said.

The cries of those grieving for their dead and those in hospital with lacerations, broken bones and head injuries echo across the region, just beyond the spanking expressway linking the national capital to the state.

9. Cyclonic circulation over Haryana was trigger for dust storm, say experts: A cyclonic circulation over Haryana was the trigger for the deadly dust storm that swept parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, weather experts said on Wednesday, estimating that the wind speed during the storm may have gone up to 100 kilometres per hour. The winds were so violent that a number of houses collapsed and electricity poles and trees got uprooted, as the severe dust storm swept parts of these states. The phenomenon was restricted to these two states, largely because of external and domestic reasons, experts said. There were primarily four reasons that lead to the thunderstorm — excessive heating, availability of moisture, instability in atmosphere and a trigger for the storm, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Additional Director General Mritunjay Mohapatra said, according to PTI.

10. Congress slams Yogi for campaigning in Karnataka even as UP was hit by dust storm: The Congress on Thursday took a dig at UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka even when people of his state were reeling under the impact of the severe dust storm that has left many dead.

"Even if people of Uttar Pradesh are suffering, I am busy culling out 'jumlas' (gimmicks) in Karnataka elections -- Adityanath, missing chief minister, Uttar Pradesh," tweeted Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala.


The swipe at him follows the death of as many as 45 persons in the high-intensity dust storm that hit the state overnight. Adityanath is scheduled to address several election rallies in Karnataka.