Dust storms hit several parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Monday evening as more than 20 states braced for thunderstorms following a warning from the India Meteorological Department. Power supply was disrupted in some places in the four states. A thunderstorm with rain is likely in Delhi as well in the next three to four hours, the weather agency told ANI.
Authorities in Delhi have decided to close all evening schools on Tuesday, while the Haryana government cancelled holidays of all officials and asked emergency services to stay alert.
In its 8 pm update on Monday, the IMD said thunderstorms and squall, with wind speeds of 50 km-70 km per hour, were likely in most of northern India and some states of the North East till Tuesday.
In Delhi, the metro train authorities decided to exercise caution in running trains, India Today reported. The traffic police also issued an advisory asking people to avoid travelling. In Uttarakhand, schools have been asked to stay closed on Tuesday in Dehradun and Haridwar.
The Haryana government had already announced that all schools would remain shut on Monday and Tuesday.
More than 115 people died and dozens were injured in squalls and sandstorms in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. At least 10 died in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh following heavy rain on Thursday. Many people were also injured in these states, as well as in Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.
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