After sandstorm, temperature dips in Rajasthan

A day after a sandstorm hit parts of Rajasthan on Tuesday, the maximum temperatures across the desert state dipped 2-3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

The minimum temperatures on Tuesday late night came down by two to four degrees, thanks mainly to high velocity dusty winds and rain with hailstorm experienced in some parts of Rajasthan.

But in most pardts of the state, the maximum temperatures were hovering between 41 and 45 degrees Celsius.

Strong dusty winds raging between 75-84 km an hour hit 20 districts of the state, including Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Sikar, Churu, Nagaur, Jodhpur, Pali, Dausa, Kaauli, Kota and Bharatpur, on Tuesday afternoon.

The sandstorm was so strong that in some places train and flight services were affected, trees were uprooted and many houses were damaged.

Electricity lines were snapped and at least 10 people died -- five in Bharatpur and two in Bikaner -- and over 70 were injured in accidents caused by high velocity winds in different areas of the state.

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs.4 lakh each to the families of those killed and Rs.10,000 to the injured.

On Wednesday, Churu recorded maximum temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius, and Chittorgarh, famous for its fort, was experiencing scorching heat at 46.3 degrees celsius.

Jaipur was hot at 42.2 degrees, one degree above what is normal for this time of the season, and the minimum temperature was 26.6 degrees celsius.

On Monday, Jaipur recorded the maximum temperature of 45.9 degrees celsius, the highest in the city in May in the last 10 years. Bikaner was also hot at 41.2 degrees Celsius.

Udaipur, the city of lakes, was sweltering at 42.6 degrees celsius. Kota and desert town of Jaisalmer were hot at 44.8 degrees and 43.5 degrees celsius respectively.

Similar conditions are likely to continue in Rajasthan for the next 24 hours, the weather office forecast.

"The state will witness partly cloudy sky with maximum and minimum temperatures hovering around 44 and 28 degrees celsius. Thunder with squall will occur at isolated places in the state in next 24 hours," a meteorological department official told IANS.