Delhi, North India on alert for heavy rain, storms today

Water and power utilities to also keep restoration teams ready

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department ( IMD) has issued a warning of thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail in large parts of northern and eastern India on Tuesday, prompting authorities to put in place various emergency measures such as part- closure of schools and cancelling leave of civic officials. The IMD said, thunderstorm, accompanied by squall and hail, was very likely at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Following a warning from the meteorological department about heavy rain and thunderstorm in the national capital, the Delhi government has put search and rescue teams on standby and the traffic police have alerted their field formations to be ready for removal of obstacles. The traffic police has asked also commuters to check weather conditions before travelling while the Delhi Metro too has decided to exercise extreme caution in running of trains. The Delhi government, meanwhile, has decided to close all evening schools on Tuesday following the warning. It said that all evening schools ( second shift, which starts from the afternoon) will remain closed on Tuesday.

The revenue department has issued directions to all district officers and said water and power utilities would also keep restoration teams ready.

The Delhi traffic police’s advisory said it had instructed forces on the field to be on the alert and to ensure that obstacles, such as fallen trees, were removed. It also advised commuters not to travel during a storm. Those who stopped their vehicles on the road in the event of a storm or rain were asked to keep away from overhead electrical wires, tinned roofs, trees, etc.

Commuters were advised to take shelter under concrete structures. Drivers were asked to use dippers or parking lights while driving. The advisory said commuters should “keep themselves updated about the weather conditions and plan their journey accordingly.” The Delhi government took the decision at a high- level meeting chaired by chief secretary Anshu Prakash to review the preparedness in the wake of the warning.

The Delhi Metro has also decided to exercise extreme caution in running trains.

“If the wind speed is reported in the range of 70- 90 kmph, then train movement will remain normal. But if the wind speed is reported above 90 kmph, then trains will be put on hold at platforms and no train will enter platforms with a speed of more than 15 kmph,” a DMRC official said.