Delhi hit by storms and gales after weeks of hot weather

A thunderstorm hit the Indian capital and adjoining regions early yesterday, bringing relief from the sweltering heat to millions.

The temperature in Delhi fell by 11 degrees to hit 18°C in the morning, although the India Meteorological Department said it would soon rise to 39°C.

Delhi and its satellite cities were scorched by a heatwave in recent weeks, with at least two weather stations recording temperatures of 49°C.

While the rain, accompanied by winds of up to 80 kilometres an hour, brought the temperature down, the downpour caused flooding in parts of the city.

Trees at the side of roads were uprooted, causing traffic jams during the morning rush hour. There were at least three reports of walls collapsing in the capital. No casualties were reported.

The early morning thunderstorm also affected air traffic, with at least 60 flights either delayed for arrival or departure. Two flights were cancelled.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport in the city advised passengers to seek “updated flight information” before making a journey to the airport, owing to disruption to flights.

The weather office has predicted widespread rainfall and isolated thunderstorms in Delhi’s neighbouring regions of Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir over the next two days.

Residents of the western Rajasthan state, which has had a blistering summer and acute water shortages, were yesterday told to expect “peak rainfall intensity”.

Mahesh Palawat, of private weather forecaster Skymet Weather, said New Delhi recorded its coldest May temperature in the past decade yesterday.

“The city recorded the minimum temperature during the decade,” he said.

“While rain has stopped and the weather system is clearing up, we are anticipating another spell of rain and thunderstorm activity tonight and tomorrow.”

India has sweltered this year as it recorded its highest temperatures for almost 125 years.

Large parts of northern, western and central India recorded spells of hot weather in March and last month as the mercury breached average monthly temperatures.

But the south-west monsoon, in which the country receives about 75 per cent of its rainfall, advanced early this year.

India’s southern and eastern regions are recording heavy rainfall owing to the onset of the monsoon.

Last week, flooding was reported in north-eastern Assam state.

Weather experts say the monsoon will touch the northern region by June 1.