Red alert in Delhi as powerful dust storm hits city, IMD warns of 80 km/h winds

A sudden and intense dust storm swept through Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday evening, plunging the city into chaos and prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert until 9 pm. The abrupt weather change brought strong winds, dense cloud cover, and potential rainfall, triggering both safety concerns and traffic disruptions across the capital.

The dust storm, which began late in the evening, led to tree branches breaking and debris falling across major areas such as Mandi House and Delhi Gate. In one incident, a fallen tree trunk crushed a motorcycle, while in another, traffic was halted due to roadblocks caused by scattered branches.

Visuals from different parts of the city showed thick dust engulfing roads, with winds whipping up debris and significantly reducing visibility. Commuters were seen covering their faces and vehicles navigating through dusty lanes, as Delhi’s skyline turned grey in a matter of minutes.

According to IMD officials, the city may witness moderate to severe thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds in the next few hours. Areas in and around Delhi, including parts of Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have also been placed under similar weather advisories.

Wind speeds across Delhi and NCR are expected to range between 40 and 60 km/h, with isolated pockets possibly experiencing gusts of up to 80 km/h. The IMD has warned that hailstorms may accompany the storm, posing threats to people, livestock, crops, and weak structures.

Citizens have been advised to stay indoors and avoid open spaces until conditions improve. The weather department also cautioned about potential damage to agricultural produce, loose tin sheets, hoardings, and trees.