IMD issues 48-hour dust storm alert for Delhi, Haryana
At least 124 people killed and 300 injured due to dust storms and thunderstorms in 5 states, mostly in UP and Rajasthan. Haryana schools remain closed for 2 days. Find latest updates on IMD forecast
The Delhi government has put search and rescue teams on standby in every district following the meteorological department's warning about heavy rains and thunderstorm.The revenue department of the government has issued directions to all district officers and said water and power utilities would also keep restoration teams ready."The district and sub-district search and rescue teams have been put on standby," a senior official of the department said. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), thunderstorm accompanied
with gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh today and tomorrow. Taking note of IMD's warning of thunderstorms at isolated places in the state, the Haryana government had on Sunday announced the closure of all schools on Monday and Tuesday.The Union home ministry, in a fresh advisory on Sunday, said 13 states would be affected by thunderstorms, along with squall and hail on Monday. The fresh warning came days after thunderstorms wreaked havoc across the country, claiming at least 124 lives and injuring more than 300. According to government figures, the worst casualty was reported in Uttar Pradesh, where 73 people were killed and 91 others injured. In Rajasthan, 35 people were killed and 206 injured. Eight people were killed in Telangana, six in Uttarakhand and two in Punjab; nearly 100 people were injured in these three states.Meanwhile, the IMD issued a fresh 48-hour dust and thunder storm warning for the next 48 hours in New Delhi and adjoining areas. Here are the top 10 developments around the recent weather conditions, today's weather forecast by IMD and the likelihood of thunderstorms in North India according: 1. Delhi govt puts search, rescue teams on standby: The Delhi government has put search and rescue teams on standby in every district following the meteorological department's warning about heavy rains and thunderstorm. The revenue department of the government has issued directions to all district officers and said water and power utilities would also keep restoration teams ready. "The district and sub-district search and rescue teams have been put on standby," a senior official of the department said. 2. More thunderstorms likely to hit India till May 11: IMD on Monday issued a mild thunderstorm and dust storm warning for the next 48 hours in New Delhi and its neighbouring states. 3.Rains in Chandigarh: Chandigarh and its surrounding areas witnessed early morning rains on Monday. The city authorities are on a high alert following the storm warning issued by the met department. 4. Haryana schools closed: The Haryana government has announced that all schools will remain closed in the state on Monday and Tuesday.State Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma on Sunday said the decision has been taken in view of the MeT Department's warning.All departments have been directed to stay alert, he said. 5. Thunderstorms, rains likely in 13 states, 2 UTs on Monday: At least 13 states and two Union Territories are likely to witness thunderstorms accompanied by squall, hail and heavy rains on Monday (today), the Home Ministry said.Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely at isolated places in Uttarakhand and Punjab, while some places over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are
likely to witness heavy rains, a Home Ministry official said quoting an Indian Meteorological Department advisory. 6. Rain leads to a drop in temperature in Himachal Pradesh: Stormy weather conditions prevailed in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday leading to a significant drop in temperature. Minimum temperatures dropped by three to five degrees during past 24 hours and Keylong recorded a low of 3.7 degrees Celsius while Kalpa and Manali recorded the minimum temperatures at 4.6 degrees Celsius and 6.4 degrees Celsius, respectively. 7. Pradhan seeks support for storm-hit Odisha farmers: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday requested Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh to extend all possible support to the farmers affected by the untimely Nor'wester in Odisha.He said that widespread loss of crops and life in many districts of Odisha have occurred as a result of the untimely Nor'wester (Kalabaishakhi) spell of rains and hailstorm which swept many parts of the state over the past few days. 8. 7 injured, 200 houses collapsed in storm in West Bengal: Seven persons were injured and about 200 houses were collapsed in a storm in Nadia district on Sunday, District Magistrate Sumit Gupta said.The storm with a speed of about 90 to 100 km per hour lashed places such as Ranaghat, Hanskhali and Krishnagar.While seven persons were injured in house collapse or by uprooted trees, Gupta said. 9. Crops damaged, Mango prices might go up: The thunderstorms that stuck Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, a few days earlier, destroyed almost 30-40 of the standing mango crop in the main growing districts of Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Muzaffarnagar, Bareli, Rampur and Sitapur.Traders and farmers said this might push up mango prices in the domestic market this year as Uttar Pradesh is one of the biggest suppliers of mangoes in the country. 10. Prime Minister approves an ex-gratia of Rs 200,000 for the kin of those killed: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, approved an ex gratia payment of Rs 200,000 each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the dust storm in various parts of north India on May 2.
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