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Dust storm hits Delhi as rains pound Himachal and Chandigarh, bring respite from scorching heat
Dust storm hits parts of Delhi in the evening giving respite to Delhiites from sweltering heat
Transportation and other services were disrupted in several parts of New Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh after they were hit by massive dust storms followed by rain on Friday evening.
Discom BSES Delhi warned of the possibility of disruptions in some areas of the national capital due to the unexpected weather phenomenon. “On account of the storm/strong winds, there may be disruptions in power supply in some areas. BSES teams are on high-alert and are trying to restore the disruptions in affected areas. The restoration may take longer than usual as safety is of paramount importance,” it tweeted.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh and its nearby areas were thrown into near-chaos around 5 pm after high-velocity winds coupled with dust and rain battered the region for over an hour. Trees were uprooted and branches fell onto streets, obstructing vehicular flow in several places. Traffic jams were also witnessed as the dust storm had come during the evening peak hours. Residents complained of power cuts that stretched over three hours.
On the bright side, the rainfall provided the region with some relief from the summer heat.
Shimla witnessed a similar situation, with strong winds uprooting trees and blowing the roofs off temporary shelters. Power supply in the hill town and its adjoining areas was also disrupted.
However, the accompanying rain put out forest fires in Chama, Kangra and Shimla -- providing fire-fighting teams and forest department officials with a much-needed breather.
(With agency inputs)
