Over 24 flights diverted, several delayed after Delhi-NCR witnesses dust-storm, rain

NEW DELHI: At least 24 flights were diverted and several delayed from Delhi airport after the national capital and its neighbourhood regions experienced dust-storm and rain on Friday evening. The arrivals and departures at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport were delayed up to one hour due to this sudden change in weather.

The sudden change in weather brought relief from the scorching heat as temperatures dipped on Friday evening. The relief in weather is likely to continue until April 10 with rain and thunderstorms occurring at late evening and night.

Earlier, the India Meteorological Department official (IMD) had predicted light rain or drizzle in some areas. 

Sudden weather change, dust storm in Delhi; Visuals from RK Puram pic.twitter.com/Q9KiEBNDdq

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018

Sudden dust storm hits #Delhi; Visuals from Akbar Road pic.twitter.com/xeTblECCzO

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018

“Currently, a cyclonic circulation is over Central Pakistan and adjoining Punjab and Haryana. Along with this, a feeble Western Disturbance is also over Jammu and Kashmir region. Due to the combined effect of these systems, an extended spell of rain and thunderstorm is likely over Delhi and the NCR region. Wind pattern is also expected to become southeasterly from the prevailing northwesterlies,” reported Skymet weather.

On Friday morning, residents of Delhi-NCR woke up to a partly cloudy morning, with the minimum temperature settling at 22.5 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season's average. The humidity level recorded at 8.30 am was 55 per cent, according to the Meteorological department.

"The skies will remain partly cloudy and there is a possibility of light rains in some areas today," an official of the department said.

The official said that the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 37 degrees Celsius.

On Thursday, the minimum temperature settled at 23.2 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature recorded was 37.6 degrees Celsius