New Delhi, May 8: Thunderstorms, rains, dust storm accompanied by gusty winds are likely to hit the northern states of India on Tuesday. According to a release by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the winds speed is expected to vary between 50 and 70 km per hour. Squalls and gusty winds are likely to hit many parts of India, including Delhi, till Friday even as the mountains of Himachal Pradesh received fresh snowfall.

The weather office had also issued an alert on Monday saying “under the influence of a western disturbance, a cyclonic circulation over Haryana and a west-east tough from northwest Rajasthan to central Madhya Pradesh in lower levels” will bring light to moderate rainfall in north India.

thunderstorm (Photo Credit: Getty)

IMD reports inform that in the next 48 hours, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh are expected to witness heavy to moderate rainfall. The IMD prediction comes a week after a deadly thunderstorm killed at least 124 people and injured more than 300 in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

IMD issues alert on severe weather conditions

  • The IMD has issued an alert indicating severe weather, for Delhi along with parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and western Uttar Pradesh.

  • In a circular issued on Monday evening, the DoE said winds with a speed of 60-70 kmph might blow between 3 pm and 7 pm in Delhi that is expected to peak around 5.30 pm. The DM, Ghaziabad also said all schools will remain shut.

  • Soon after the alert, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has said all evening schools would remain closed. Other schools have also been asked not to hold outdoor activities.

  • The IMD has said that “under the influence of a western disturbance, a cyclonic circulation over Haryana and a west-east tough from northwest Rajasthan to central Madhya Pradesh in lower levels” would bring light to moderate rainfall in north India, including Delhi.

Delhi government issues advisory:

IMD predicts thunderstorm over North west India during  the next 5 days (Photo Credits: PTI)

The Delhi government on Monday issued an advisory and urged people to monitor the media for updates and warning instructions. The advisory added not to take bath during the storm as lightning can travel along pipes; and to unplug electrical equipment”.

Delhi Metro Services to take a hit

According to a DMRC advisory, the Delhi Metro, too, has decided to exercise caution in running trains. The DMRC said that if wind speed was more than 90 kmph then it would halt operations. “If wind speed is reported in the range of 70-90 kmph, then train movement will remain normal, but trains will enter with a restricted speed of 40 kmph or less at platforms on elevated sections. If wind speed is more than 90 kmph, then trains will be put on hold at platforms… no train will enter the platform with a speed of more than 15 kmph. Normal movement of trains will be restored once the wind speed is less then 85 kmph for continuous five minutes,” the DMRC stated in an advisory.

On Monday, a dust storm with a wind speed of 50 kmph hit the national capital late last evening at 11.15 pm along with rainfall. In a weather warning bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the states likely to be affected by thunderstorms and gusty winds are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Karnataka and Kerala.

Schools in Haryana to be shut on May 7 and May 8

In wake of the warning by the meteorological department, thunderstorm accompanied with squall at isolated places in Haryana between May 7 and 8, following which the state government decided that all government and private schools will remain closed on these two days.

Reports inform that State Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma today said the decision to keep schools closed on May 7 and 8 has been taken in view of the MeT Department's warning.

Flights delayed due to storm

Six arriving flights, one departure flight delayed due to the dust storm that hit Delhi and adjoining NCR areas including Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Gurugram, Baghpat, Meerut and Ghaziabad.

13 states on storm alert

Thunderstorms accompanied by squall, hail and heavy rains are likely to occur in at least 13 states and two Union Territories, the home ministry said. Heavy rains expected over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, a home ministry official said quoting an Indian Meteorological Department advisory.

The IMD in its release said, “Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds very likely at isolated places over Punjab, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, west Madhya Pradesh, east UP, east Rajasthan, coastal and south interior Karnataka and Kerala.” A yellow alert has been issued for these states.

Earlier this morning, massive dust storm hits Uttar Pradesh's Meerut. In wake of the bad weather conditions, all educational institutions to remain closed today due to thunderstorm alert for the region. Meanwhile, thunderstorm and hailstorm alert issued for Dehradun district for the next 48 hours. In the wake of the alert, all schools and Anganwadi centres in the district to remain closed tomorrow.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 08, 2018 09:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).