Dust storm darkens skies over Raj

80-Kmph Gusts, Rain & Hail Lash 15 Districts

Jaipur: A powerful dust storm spanning more than 15 districts turned day into night in several parts of the state Saturday as an active western disturbance unleashed winds of up to 80 kmph, accompanied by rain and hail in many places.

The storm system uprooted a mobile tower in Hanumangarh, besides damaging power infrastructure in several places and forcing motorists to switch on headlights in what should have been broad daylight. No injuries were immediately reported from anywhere in the state.

The ferocity of the storm was offset only by the relief it provided from the intense heatwave lashing most of the state over the past several days. An average drop of around 8°C in daytime temperatures was reported from several districts following the storm.

Gusts of 80 kmph winds lashed Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Churu, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Jaipur, Alwar, Dausa, Kotputli-Behror, Bharatpur, Karauli, Phalodi districts and adjoining areas.

The storm system moved into Rajasthan from neighbouring Pakistan, hitting Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts first. Residents here described scenes resembling a wild desert sandstorm, with giant walls of dust engulfing towns, highways and villages.

Besides toppling a mobile tower in Hanumangarh, strong winds caused widespread damage to power infrastructure and hoardings in the district. In Sri Ganganagar’s Beenjhbayala area, the storm caused an electrical transformer to collapse, disrupting power supply to nearby areas.

Some of the most dramatic scenes were reported from Bikaner district, where massive whirlwinds engulfed the Mahajan, Arjansar and Lunkaransar areas, plunging them into darkness and causing livestock to run helter-skelter. Later, rainfall and hailstorms lashed the district’s Chhatargarh, Deshnok and surrounding areas, causing waterlogging in many places.

The dust storm continued its advance through Churu, Sikar and Nagaur before reaching Jaipur and adjoining areas. The capital city was struck by a powerful dust storm around 5pm, followed by rainfall that continued into the evening. The Meteorological Centre reported wind speeds of around 70 kmph in the city.

Phalodi remained the hottest place in Rajasthan Saturday at 42.6°C, followed by Jaisalmer at 41.4°C, Barmer at 40.7°C, Churu at 40.4°C, and Bikaner and Kota at 40.2°C each. Jaipur recorded a maximum temperature of 36.8°C and a minimum of 21.4°C, both significantly below normal.

The India Meteorological Department had earlier issued a red alert for several districts, warning of thunderstorms, hailstorms, moderate to heavy rain and winds reaching 80 to 100 kmph.