Red alert issued as strong winds and dust storms sweep Rajasthan
Jaipur, May 30
A strong Western Disturbance triggered widespread sandstorms, rain and gusty winds across Rajasthan on Saturday, disrupting normal life in several districts.
Sandstorms swept through Churu, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Alwar and Sikar, while Jaipur witnessed rain accompanied by strong winds. Hailstones were also reported from some rural areas.
The sudden weather change brought daytime darkness to several districts, forcing motorists to switch on headlights. Strong winds uprooted trees and disrupted electricity supply in many areas.
The storm system first impacted Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar, where wind speeds reached up to 56 kilometres per hour. In Jaipur's Jhotwara area, intense winds and dust storms persisted for nearly 10 minutes during the evening.
In Sri Ganganagar, a storm around 11 a.m. engulfed the city in dust, creating conditions resembling a massive sandstorm.
Similar scenes were witnessed in Churu and Bikaner, while dust clouds swept through Fatehpur and Laxmangarh in Sikar district.
Despite the disruption, the sudden weather shift provided much-needed relief from intense heat and heatwave conditions.
At 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, the Meteorological Department issued a Red Alert for the next three hours in Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Churu, Sikar, Didwana-Kuchaman, Nagaur, Jhunjhunu, Jaipur and Phalodi.
An Orange Alert was simultaneously issued for Dausa, Alwar, Kotputli-Behror, Khairthal-Tijara, Deeg, Bharatpur and Karauli.
Several districts, including Udaipur, also recorded rainfall during the morning hours.
The Meteorological Department issued a fresh weather warning at around 6 p.m., valid for the following three hours.
Under the updated forecast, a Red Alert for heavy rainfall and intense weather activity was issued for Phalodi, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Sikar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Beawar, Tonk and Dausa.
Wind speeds during this period were forecast to reach up to 80 kilometres per hour.
An Orange Alert was also issued for Balotra, Kotputli-Behror, Alwar, Khairthal-Tijara, Sawai Madhopur and Karauli.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan's Disaster Management Department warned of severe storm activity between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., cautioning that wind speeds could range between 90 and 100 kilometres per hour in affected regions.
Additional alerts remained in place for Didwana-Kuchaman, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Kotputli-Behror, Nagaur and Sikar as authorities monitored the evolving weather situation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I was in Jaipur yesterday evening when it hit. Within minutes, visibility dropped to near zero, and everyone had to pull over. The darkness at 4 PM was surreal. But honestly, the cool breeze after weeks of 45°C was a welcome relief.
Good that the Met department issued a Red Alert in time. But why does it always take a disaster for relief measures to be in place? The uprooted trees and power cuts could have been avoided with better infrastructure. Just saying.
Hailstones in Rajasthan in May! Climate change is real, guys. We need to take this seriously. The Western Disturbance is becoming more intense every year. Stay safe everyone, especially in rural areas where warnings might not reach quickly.
My parents are in Churu. They said the sandstorm was so bad they couldn't see the house next door! Thank God no casualties reported yet. But seriously, the government needs to provide better emergency shelters in these districts.
As someone who works in agriculture, this is a double-edged sword. The rain is good for crops like bajra and pulses, but the strong winds can flatten standing crops. Rajasthan's farmers already have enough to deal with. 😞
K Kavya N