Heavy Rains In Delhi Kills 2; Uproots Several Trees And Damages Jama Masjid's Dome

Delhiites finally found some respite from extensive heat after weeks, but certainly not in the way they would have wanted.?The national capital witnessed its first severe thunderstorm in four years as squally winds of 100 kmph hit the city on Monday evening, uprooting trees, damaging property, and disrupting the?traffic at several locations for hours.?

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This is the first storm of “severe” intensity in Delhi since June 9, 2018, when Palam had logged a wind speed of 104 kmph, a Met department official said.

A moderate thunderstorm had hit the city last Monday.The thunderstorm led to a drastic fall in the temperature at the Safdarjung Observatory — from 40 degrees Celsius at 4:20 pm to 25 degrees Celsius at 5:40 pm.

According to reports, authorities received over 300 calls of trees falling.

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Safdarjung, Lodhi Road, and Ridge logged 17.8 mm, 20 mm, and 15 mm of rainfall.?

East and central parts of Delhi faced a severe impact with damaged roads with broken tree branches.?

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People at several locations across the city shared reports about the strong winds snapping power and internet cables, throwing parts of the capital into chaos.Here are some pictures that social media users share on Twitter.?

The intense storm-damaged old, vulnerable structures and under-construction buildings.

The historic Jama Masjid in the walled city area lost the final of its central dome due to the storm.?

Two people were killed:?

A 50-year-old man died in the Jama Masjid area in centra Delhi after a portion of a balcony of a neighboring house fell on him during the strong winds while he was standing outside his residence.

Another 65-year-old homeless man was reportedly killed in the Angoori Bagh area of North Delhi after a Peepal tree fell on him, the police said.??

At least five flights were diverted and 70 delayed at the Delhi airport, while endless chaotic queues of vehicles clogged the arterial roads of the capital.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport reported winds gusting up to 100 kmph. The Palam weather station logged a maximum wind speed of 70 kmph. A trough extending from northwest Rajasthan to Assam will persist for a few days.?

Loud thunder, lightning strikes, and a short, intense spell of rain accompanied the gusty winds.?The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed it to a Western Disturbance-induced cyclonic circulation over northwest Rajasthan and adjoining Pakistan.?

The moisture-carrying easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal are feeding the cyclonic circulation.

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High temperature and high humidity create thunderclouds capable of producing short, intense spells of rain and thunderstorms, an official said.?

Some parts of Delhi are likely to see intermittent thunder activity over the next few days, which will keep the mercury in check, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president (climate change and meteorology), Skymet Weather.?

He also confirmed that the heatwave is unlikely in Delhi for a week.

(With PTI inputs)

Follow us on?telegram.?Close to 300 calls of trees falling were received by civic authorities.