New Delhi: The Indian Meteorological department (IMD) has issued a warning for a thunderstorm with squall at isolated places over various parts of north India.
Met officials have, however, highlighted that the intensity of the thunder-storm will be much lower than the storm of 2 May, which left at least 124 people dead.
“The intensity of the thunderstorm would be much lesser. Wind-speed is expected to be around 50-70km per hour, compared to over 120km per hour in the thunderstorm on 2 May. We have issued moderate weather alert for the states,” said M. Mohapatra, DGM, National Weather Forecasting Centre, IMD.
Western disturbances over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are causing the thunder-activity along with several other factors, Mohapatra said, adding these weather conditions are likely to continue at least until Tuesday.
“These western disturbances could bring light to moderate showers in several northern states,” he said.
According to the IMD forecast, thunderstorm accompanied by dust-storm with wind-speed reaching 50-70kmph and hail is very likely at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and eastern Rajasthan.
Apart from the northern states and west Madhya Pradesh, dust-storms with gusty winds are also likely to hit isolated places in north-eastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and also Bihar.
Isolated places in Tamil Nadu, south interior Karnataka and Kerala could witness heavy rains along with thunder-storm.
As a precautionary measure, the Haryana government has announced that all private and government schools in the state will remain closed until 8 May due to the bad weather alert.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Delhi police have also issued an advisory on the precautions to be taken during the thunderstorm.
At least 124 people died and more than were 200 injured after a severe thunderstorm hit several parts of northern India on 2 May. Rajasthan and UP faced the brunt with as many as 74 people dying in UP.
An alert has also been sounded by the local administration for parts of Rajasthan, including Bikaner, which witnessed maximum damage of life and property on 2 May.
