Severe Dust Storms Hit Delhi-NCR; Northeast India Grapples with Deadly Floods and Landslides

While the Northeast struggles with an increasing flood crisis, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) were under the forecast of dust storms and thunderstorms, and strong winds with gusts of up to 80 kmph and light rain. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport had disruptions in flight operations when severe dust storms swept through the city and adjacent areas.

On Sunday evening, dust and thunderstorms were predicted in Delhi and adjacent areas which include Uttar Pradesh's Noida and Haryana's Gurugram and Faridabad, while 78,000 residents of 15 districts in Assam have suffered from severe flooding and landslides which have caused a reported eight fatalities so far.

Warnings of thunderstorms, lightning and squall were issued by the IMD for the next two days on June 2-3, in Delhi and NCR cities.

Also Read: Two Dead, Over 500 Arrested as PSG’s Champions League Victory Sparks Nationwide Riots in France

Weather updates

Delhi weather: In a weather bulletin at around 5 pm on Sunday, IMD said, “Dust storm/followed by Thunderstorm with light rainfall and lightning (50-80 Km/h gusty winds) is very likely to occur at entire Delhi , NCR ( Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Manesar, Ballabhgarh) during next 2 hours.” The IMD has issued warnings of thunderstorms, lightning and squall for the next two days, on June 2-3, in Delhi and NCR cities.

The short rain showers provided some welcome relief from the heat in Delhi with maximum temperatures on Sunday about a 40 degrees Celsius.

Intense dust storms in Delhi-NCR: Various residents of Delhi and adjacent cities like Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad took to social media to post video clips of the severe dust storms in their area on Sunday; with some evidence trees blowing around vigorously in the winds. Pragati Maidan indicated wind speed of 76 kmph at 4:45 pm on Sunday. According to the IMD, shortly after 5:30 pm, heavy Rainfall activity with gusty Winds likely to continue over most parts of Delhi during next one hour with a thunderstorm/lightning associated with it. Thereby, leading to cumulative Rainfall of up to moderate category.

Northeast rain fury: Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday made calls to Chief Minister of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim and the Governor of Manipur as heavy rainfall has brought large parts of the Northeast under the effects of a weather system. He assured them of all possible help to manage the circumstances on behalf of the Centre as the Centre has their back.

Shah assures Centre's support to Northeast: "Spoke with the Chief Ministers of Assam, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh and Governor of Manipur in the wake of ongoing heavy rainfall in their states. Also assured them of every possible help to tackle any situation," Shah wrote on 'X'. He added that the Modi government "stands like a rock in support of the people of the Northeast."

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Government Offers Support to Madrasi Camp Residents Opting to Return Home

8 dead, 78,000 affected in Assam: The region has been slammed with heavy rainfall with no signs of letting off over the last several days with the incessant downpour causing floods and landslides in many of the states. In Assam, it has been reported that floods had affected over 78,000 people in over 15 districts. Required transportation methods, e.g., road, rail and ferry have been impacted due to waterlogging and damage by the excessive rainfall, officials cited by PTI news agency, said.

9 dead in Arunachal: In Arunachal Pradesh, there were nine reported deaths due to landslides over the last two days only, whereas in Sikkim, about 1,500 tourists are left stranded in north Sikkim due to landslides blocking the main road of the area.

Sikkim: A fatal incident in Sikkim’s Mangan district on Thursday night resulted in one tourist dead, two injured, and eight were unaccounted for when their vehicle fell into the Teesta River while it was raining heavily.

Manipur rains: In Manipur, floods and landslides have affected 3,802 people and damaged 883 houses over the last 48 hours, according to official estimates.

Also Read: Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Attack on Russian Airbases, Damaging Over 40 Military Aircraft