Thunderstorm alert in 13 states, Haryana schools to be shut for next 2 days

With thunderstorm and squall likely to hit major part of the country on Monday, Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma has announced that schools will be closed in state on Monday (May 7) and Tuesday (May 8).

Thunderstorms accompanied by squall, hail and heavy rains are likely to occur in at least 13 states and two Union Territories across the country on Monday, the Home Ministry said.

Parts of Punjab, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, southern Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala could experience thunderstorm and gusty winds on Tuesday, said a warning by the weather department.

The IMD has also forecasted thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh while thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely at isolated places in Uttarakhand and Punjab.

"Rainfall is expected in many regions of the state between 6 and 8 May, and a warning for thunderstorm and strong winds on 7 and 8 May has been issued for Shimla, Solan, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra and Una districts," said the Director IMD Himachal Pradesh, Manmohan Singh, about the possible weather situation in the state.

The alert comes after 124 people died and over 300 were injured in the thunderstorms and lightning that hit Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan earlier this week.

In view of the warning, the Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Department, in an advisory, has suggested safety tips to be adopted in case of thunderstorms, dust storms and squall.

A spokesperson of the department said there is no need to panic and people should follow the precautions, pay special attention to children and senior citizens. All departments have been directed to stay alert, he said.