Dust storm hits Delhi near midnight; light rain, lightning strike thereafter

The Delhi Police Control Room (PCR) on Tuesday received around 31 calls in connection with the dust storm. The calls were received until 8 am on Tuesday, mostly about the falling of trees. A call was received from Outer Delhi’s Nihal Vihar area, where a labourer was injured after tiles fell on him due to the storm late night. Ten calls were also received by the traffic helpline in connection with the storm.

After the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning of heavy rain and thunderstorm, the Delhi Police had made elaborate arrangements to make sure that the Delhiites and commuters do not face any difficulty on Monday night. The dust storm in Delhi-NCR started around close to midnight followed by light rains and lightning in outskirts of Delhi.

The 29 calls were received between 8 pm on Monday to 8 am on Tuesday. Two other calls of trees falling were also received up to 10 am on Tuesday. Besides this, on Monday, the Delhi Traffic Police had also given out traffic helpline numbers in cases of emergency. The traffic helpline (1095) received around 17 calls regarding the dust storm, of which seven were the ones forwarded by the control room.

Police officials stated that in Outer Delhi’s Nihal Vihar area, a labourer, who was sleeping, was injured after strong winds blew and tiles kept on the parapet fell on him. In East Delhi’s Preet Vihar area, a call was received regarding a tree fall, however, no one was injured in the incident. “Apart from this seventeen calls were miscellaneous, three were regarding wall collapse and seven were regarding tree falling incidents in various parts of Delhi,” said a senior police officer.

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The Delhi Traffic Police on Monday evening had issued an advisory and also alerted the field formations to be ready to handle obstacles such as fallen trees that were removed immediately to avoid traffic chaos. “Commuters to avoid travelling during the storm. Those who are stopping on the road or parking their vehicle have been advised to keep away from overhead electrical wires, tinned roofs, trees and others. The commuters have been advised to take shelter under concrete structures. Drivers have been advised to use dippers or parking lights while driving,” stated the advisory.

Source: DNA India