Massive dust storm engulfs parts of Rajasthan; Churu witnesses near-zero visibility

CHURU/BIKANER: A massive black-and-yellow dust storm swept through Churu, Rajasthan, on Saturday, engulfing the area and severely reducing visibility as thick clouds of sand covered the landscape.

A severe storm also triggered a huge wall of dust in Bikaner during the afternoon, marking another episode of intense weather activity across the desert state.


The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that thunderstorms, dust storms and rainfall are likely to continue in several parts of Rajasthan over the next few days under the influence of a western disturbance.

In the last 24 hours, multiple districts witnessed strong thunderstorms and rain. Bari in Dholpur recorded the highest rainfall at 58 mm, according to officials.

The Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds reaching 60–70 kmph, along with light to moderate rainfall in isolated areas across the Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Kota, Jodhpur and Udaipur divisions later in the day.

The weather office has also warned of possible hailstorms and lightning in some regions.

Officials said the unstable weather conditions are expected to persist for the next four to five days. Due to this, maximum temperatures are likely to remain below 44°C in most areas, offering some relief from the ongoing heatwave across the state.