As per the Safdarjung observatory, the capital city has recorded 12 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. The weather department predicted that there will be no significant change in maximum temperatures over most parts of Northwest and Central India during the next two days.
New Delhi: At least eight people were injured as houses collapsed in different parts of the city following gusty winds accompanied by rain lashed the national capital during morning and evening hours on Monday, bringing the minimum temperature down to 17.2 degrees Celsius from 29 degrees Celsius — nine degrees below normal. Heavy rain and thunderstorm in Delhi and its adjoining areas early this morning led to massive traffic jams and affected flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. According to sources, around 100 flights have been delayed— 90 at the departure terminal and 44 at arrivals while 20 diverted to other airports between 6 am and 10 am as wind speeds touching as high as 75 km per hour disrupted operations. Taking note of waterlogging and traffic jams, Gurugram police has issued advisory to work from home for Monday.
According to the IMD, the parts of the national capital received rainfall of five centimeters in Ayanagar, Dhansa, Jafarpur, and Pusa, Green field, Najafgarh received rainfall of three centimeters each. Amid the thunderstorm in the national capital, Delhi on Monday recorded the maximum temperature of 31.5 degrees celsius, which is eight notches less than the normal for this time of the year. The relative humidity on Monday morning at 8:30 was recorded at 95 per cent and 61 per cent in the evening at 5:30.
As per the Safdarjung observatory, the capital city has recorded 12 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. The weather department predicted that there will be no significant change in maximum temperatures over most parts of Northwest and Central India during the next two days.
According to Delhi police, the houses collapsed in Jawalapuri, Moti Nagar, Shankar Road, Mundka and Gokulpuri areas. The police has received over 90 PCR calls related to uprooted trees were received due to gusty winds. Eight vehicles parked on the roadside were damaged after the trees were uprooted. No casualties have been reported. The national capital region witnessed heavy waterlogging, blackouts and heavy traffic jams on major intersections including ITO, AIIMS, Moti Bagh, Khajuri Chowk, Naraina intersection, Subhash Marg Kashmeri Gate, Pool Mithai roads.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), in an 80-minute period, the temperature in Delhi fell by 11 degrees from 29 degrees Celsius at 5.40 am to 18 degrees Celsius by 7 am. In Mundka, the roof of an under-construction house collapsed. No casualties were reported In a similar incident in Moti Nagar, three people were injured. The fire department received a total of three calls regarding wall collapses.
Private weather forecaster Skymet said that the minimum temperature recorded in the city was not only the lowest of the season but also the lowest in a decade during May. The lowest all-time minimum in May stands at 15.2 degrees Celsius, which was observed in May 2, 1982, it added. According to Skymet Weather, mercury in Delhi went down by “10 degree in one hour” on Monday morning. The temperature dropped from 29 degrees at 5:30 am to 19 degrees at 6:30 am. “Delhi recorded 17.2 degree minimum temperature today on May 23, its lowest during the decade for May. Record is 15.2 degrees on May 2 in 1982. Heatwave will not make a comeback anytime soon over north India including Delhi NCR,” Skymet’s Mahesh Palawal tweeted.
The IMD said this is the first storm of moderate intensity of this season since March. The IMD said that winds gusting at a maximum speed up to 70 kmph were recorded at the IGIA at 7am. Normal occurrence days of such weather activity in Delhi-NCR and adjoining regions are around 12 to 14 days between March and May. However, this season has seen only four to five episodes so far and those, too mostly, dry thunder, the India Meteorological Department said.
Earlier, the IMD has issued an alert asking residents to stay indoors due to the impact of the thunderstorm in Delhi and neighbourhood areas warning that it could cause damage to vulnerable structures, kutcha houses, traffic disruptions and occasional reduction in visibility. It also warned that loose objects are likely to fly and people should not take shelter under trees.
IMD scientist RK Jenamani said that he heatwave conditions, which the capital was witnessing over the last few weeks, are likely to remain suppressed till May 29 or 30.
