Flights delayed, trees uprooted as Delhi braces for high-intensity thunderstorm

The meteorological (MeT) department's warning of gusty winds and rains in Delhi on Tuesday has put the authorities on high alert. Six arriving flights and one departure flight got delayed due to dust storm that hit Delhi and adjoining NCR areas on late Monday night.

The meteorological (MeT) department has issued a warning of heavy rain and thunderstorm in Delhi and adjoining areas for Tuesday as well. The Delhi government has issued a list of "dos and dont's" to deal with the situation. People have been advised to stay indoors and be wary of electric poles and wire which may snap due to high velocity winds.

The high-intensity dust storm hit New Delhi and adjoining NCR including Gurugram, Noida, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar Gurugram, Bagpat, Meerut and Ghaziabad. The intensity may increase mon Tuesday. Though there is no report of any casualty as of now, a tree fell in the Delhi Cantt area late on Monday evening.

The traffic police in Delhi has alerted their field formations to be ready to remove obstacles such as fallen trees and asked commuters to check weather conditions before travelling.

The government said that all evening schools (second shift which starts from the afternoon) will be shut on Tuesday (May 8) after chief secretary Anshu Prakash chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness in the wake of the warning.

The government has also asked other schools to not hold outdoor activities and extracurricular activities between 3 pm to 7 pm during which winds speed is expected to remain high. The government also issued a list of "dos and don'ts" to deal with any such possible situation.

Do's and don'ts:

• Stay indoors and venture out only if absolutely necessary.
• Avoid using electrical appliances during thunderstorm and rains.
• Stay away from trees during high velocity winds as branches may snap and fall.
• Stay away from electric poles and high voltage wires.
• Keep doors and windows bolted tightly. If a glass pane in the window is cracked then tape it.
• Don't keep heavy objects such as flower pots of terrace boundary walls.
• If you live in a makeshift accomodation with temporary roof, please move to a place with concrete roof.