A sudden dust storm with a wind speed of up to 109 kmph accompanied by light rains lashed the national Capital and neighbouring areas giving a respite from the heat on Sunday evening but not before wreaking considerable havoc. At least 40 flights were diverted and more than 24 delayed, Metro services were also hit. The strong winds uprooted trees and led to incidents of wall collapse. As many as 189 trees were knocked down in the city.
In East Delhi's Pandav Nagar area, a woman died after a tree fell on her while she was walking back home.
Few persons were injured in the city due to the dust storm. The fire department received four calls regarding wall and tin roof collapse. In South-West Delhi's Najafgarh area, two persons sustained minor injuries after the tin roof of their house collapsed following the storm. In South Delhi's Palam area, a man was injured after the wall of his house collapsed. In Uttam Nagar, the wall of the second-floor collapsed on the first floor, however, no casualties were reported. In South-west Delhi's Chand camp, the wall collapsed but no injuries were reported.
A 42-year-old woman was killed and her 17-year-old son was critically injured after an illegal hoarding fell on them due to the thunderstorm. The incident took place in the Bisrakh area of Greater Noida. The police said the deceased has been identified as Zebunissa, who was travelling with her son, Imran to their home to Habitpur village on the bike. Locals rushed the two to a nearby hospital where Zebunissa was declared brought dead while Imran is undergoing treatment. "The family of the deceased was informed but we have not yet received any complaint from the family," said a senior police official of Bisrakh police station.
Around 40 flights which were to land at the Delhi Airport were diverted. Passengers took to social media and uploaded pictures of series of flight delays and of being stranded at the airport.
The Metro services were disrupted as a tree fell on one of the tracks. Commuters were stranded at the Metro stations as rickshaws and auto-rickshaws refused to drop passengers fearing damage to their vehicle.
"The winds were so strong that it was difficult to drive. I was driving on the Expressway when the storm hit. It was difficult to see the car in the front and luckily all the commuters switched on the parking lights while driving,"said Ira Dhillion, a resident of the Greater Noida.
Traffic snarls were reported from West Delhi and south west Delhi areas as trees fell on the road. Traffic police official stated that major arterial roads were clear.
PCR CALLS
- 255 trees uprooted
- 75 poles fell
- 61 tin shed / Brick of roofs fell
- TOTAL PCR CALL up to 9pm -391
- No of persons injured: 18
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