Jaipur, May 31: A powerful western disturbance caused a widespread dust storm, rain, and hail across Rajasthan on Saturday, disrupting daily life in several districts.
The storm swept through Churu, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Alwar, and Sikar, with winds reaching speeds of up to 102 km/h.
Heavy winds accompanied rain in Ajmer and Jodhpur, while rural areas near Jaipur experienced both rain and hail. The sudden weather change plunged several areas into darkness during the day, forcing drivers to turn on headlights and slowing down traffic.
The storm originated over Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar, initially with winds at about 56 km/h, which later intensified. Strong gusts uprooted trees and disrupted power supply in many districts.
In Chomu, near Jaipur, a tin roof from a shop was blown off by the storm and fell onto the service road; this incident was captured on CCTV. The roof, measuring approximately 15 feet wide and 27 feet long, narrowly missed 65-year-old Ramsharan Sharma, who escaped unharmed.
While the weather change provided relief from the intense heat, it also caused damage in some areas. In Ratangarh, Churu district, lightning struck, damaging a water tank on a roof and causing part of the wall to collapse.
In Bhilwara, rain followed a night of dust storms, leading to waterlogging on some streets. Around 8:10 PM in Rawatbhata, Chittorgarh district, a sudden dust storm reduced visibility significantly.
Pali district also faced major disruptions, with vehicles forced to move slowly and pedestrians seeking shelter. Power outages occurred in several areas.
In Jaisalmer’s Ramdevra and surrounding villages, a dust storm hit around 6:40 PM, leaving markets and roads deserted. Before the rain, many tin roofs were blown away.
The Meteorological Department issued a red alert for heavy rain and strong winds in Falodi, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Sikar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Beawar, Tonk, and Dausa, warning of winds up to 80 km/h. An orange alert was issued for Balotra, Kotputli-Bahrod, Alwar, Kherthal-Tijara, Sawai Madhopur, and Karauli.
Satellite imagery on Saturday showed the storm system rapidly advancing across Rajasthan.
MS/
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