New Delhi: Delhi-NCR experienced a chaotic Saturday afternoon as powerful winds and a thick dust storm swept through the region for the third consecutive day. The sudden weather shift caused significant disruption, particularly in Noida, where numerous trees were uprooted, crashing onto parked vehicles and blocking roads.
The fallen trees and damaged traffic signals led to widespread traffic jams, impacting commuter movement across the city.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | Traffic light pole fell after heavy rainfall accompanied by wind.
Visuals from Noida’s DM Chowk. pic.twitter.com/3vlxRIHdnM
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2025
While a brief spell of rain offered some respite from the heat, the damage caused by the gusty winds, predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), frustrated residents. The IMD had previously attributed earlier low visibility to dust advected from North Pakistan via Punjab and Haryana under strong westerly winds.
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#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | Trees were uprooted and fell on vehicles in parts of Noida after heavy rainfall accompanied by wind. Vehicular movements are also affected.
Visuals from Noida’s Sector 9. pic.twitter.com/VmEKqxqfek
— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2025
The pattern of disruptive weather wasn’t new. Friday also saw dust storms, rain, and strong winds hit various parts of Delhi and NCR, including Noida. Several areas recorded measurable rainfall, though temperatures remained stubbornly high, with Safdarjung hitting 42.3 degrees Celsius and Aya Nagar reaching 44 degrees Celsius.
The persistent wind activity, while bringing some scattered showers, also contributed to a sharp deterioration in air quality. Following a spike in the Air Quality Index (AQI) on May 15th, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was forced to reimpose Stage-I measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the NCR. The combination of high temperatures, dust storms, and localised rain created challenging conditions across the capital region over the weekend.
