Dust storms rip through Delhi-NCR, flood mayhem in Northeast | Weather updates

Delhi weather:" Residents of Delhi and adjoining cities like Noida, Gurugram took to social media and shared visuals of the intense dust storms on Sunday.

As the Northeast battles a deepening flood crisis, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) faced dust storms and thunderstorms with a forecast of gusty winds of up to 80 kmph along with light rainfall. Flight operations were hit at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport after intense dust storms ripped through the city and adjoining areas.

Dust storms hit parts of Delhi and adjoining Noida, Gurugram on Sunday evening (HT)

On Sunday evening, dust and thunderstorms were forecast in Delhi and surrounding areas—including Uttar Pradesh's Noida and Haryana's Gurugram, and Faridabad—, while in Assam, more than 78,000 people across 15 districts have been affected by severe flooding and landslides, which have claimed eight lives so far.

Weather updates

• Delhi weather: In a weather bulletin at around 5 pm on Sunday, IMD said, “Dust storm/followed by Thunderstorm with light rainfall and lightning (50-80 Km/h gusty winds) is very likely to occur at entire Delhi , NCR ( Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Manesar, Ballabhgarh) during next 2 hours.” The IMD has issued warnings of thunderstorms, lightning and squall for the next two days, on June 2-3, in Delhi and NCR cities.

The spell of rain offered a much-needed respite from the heat in Delhi, where the maximum temperatures settled at nearly 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

• Intense dust storms in Delhi-NCR: Several residents of Delhi and adjoining cities like Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad took to social media and shared visuals of the intense dust storms on Sunday, showing trees moving with the winds vigourously. Pragati Maidan reported 76 kmph wind speed at 4:45 pm on Sunday. IMD at around 5:30 pm said Rainfall activity with strong winds 60-70 gusting to 80 kmph accompanied with thunderstorm/lightning was likely to continue over most parts of Delhi during next one hour leading to cumulative rainfall of up to moderate category.

• Northeast rain fury: Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday reached out to the chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim, as well as the governor of Manipur, in the wake of heavy rainfall affecting large parts of the Northeast. He assured them of all possible assistance to manage the situation, emphasising the Centre’s support for the region.
• Shah assures Centre's support to Northeast: "Spoke with the Chief Ministers of Assam, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh and Governor of Manipur in the wake of ongoing heavy rainfall in their states. Also assured them of every possible help to tackle any situation," Shah wrote on 'X'. He added that the Modi government "stands like a rock in support of the people of the Northeast."
• 8 dead, 78,000 affected in Assam: The region has been battered by incessant rain over the past few days, triggering floods and landslides in multiple states. In Assam, over 78,000 people across more than 15 districts have been affected by floods. Key transport services—road, rail, and ferry—have been disrupted due to waterlogging and damage caused by the downpour, officials cited in a PTI news agency report said.

• 9 dead in Arunachal: Arunachal Pradesh has reported nine deaths in landslides over the past two days, while in Sikkim, nearly 1,500 tourists remain stranded in north Sikkim after landslides blocked the main road.
• Sikkim: A tragic accident in Sikkim’s Mangan district on Thursday night left one tourist dead, two injured, and eight missing after their vehicle plunged into the Teesta River during heavy rainfall.
• Manipur rains: Meanwhile, Manipur has seen widespread damage, with floods and landslides affecting 3,802 people and damaging 883 houses in the past 48 hours, according to official estimates.