Heavy rains, hailstorm lash Delhi; disrupts traffic, washes away pollution
On Tuesday morning, heavy rains and hailstorms lashed Delhi, severely disrupting rush hour traffic in the national capital. The downpour left many stretches of the national capital waterlogged, prompting police to issue advisories to commuters. Airlines, too, advised departing passengers to leave for the airport keeping some time in hand. Here are the details.
WATCH: A video of the hailstorm in Delhi
Traffic in several parts of Delhi has been disrupted
While heavy rains lashed most of Delhi, hailstorms were reported in areas like Subhash Nagar and Paschim Vihar. Waterlogging was also reported in several stretches, including Mathura Road, Ashram Chowk, Moolchand underpass, Bihari Colony, Chhatrasal Stadium, and Savitri Cinema area in Greater Kailash Part 2. Traffic apart, news agency ANI reported that 15 Delhi-bound trains had been delayed by fog and low visibility.
The latest traffic alert by Delhi Police
Traffic alert #1
Traffic alert #2
That said, the rain has washed away much air pollution
That said, Delhiites can now breathe a sigh of relief. For the first time this winter season, air quality in the national capital improved from its usual 'very poor' and 'severe' category and entered the 'moderate' category following the rain. Just days earlier, the air quality index (AQI) recorded in Delhi had hit its second-worst point this winter.
A large chunk of north India will be affected
Delhi apart, many parts of north India have been affected. According to the weather office, heavy to very heavy rainfall and snow is expected in isolated parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, while heavy rain and snow is expected to hit Uttarakhand. Hailstorms are also very likely to hit J&K, lower Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, northwest Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan.
The cause is a cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan
"A cyclonic circulation has already formed over Rajasthan because of an approaching western disturbance. This is expected to trigger rain across the plains of northwest India," said BP Yadav, Deputy Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
How temperatures have been affected
Understandably, temperatures across north India are also expected to dip. In Delhi, minimum temperature fell to 11.5 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperature is expected to be around 19-22 degrees Celsius. According to Met officials, temperature in general will range between a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 20 degrees Celsius.
