Hailstorms & heavy rains lash Delhi on Saturday; temperatures down

New Delhi: Bringing temperatures five points below the season's average, hailstorms and rains hit parts of the national capital on Saturday. The current maximum temperature in the area is 25.3 degrees Celsius, which is the lowest this month, PTI reported.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that The Aya Nagar observatory recorded the maximum rainfall, 8.4 mm, while Palam recorded 3.3 mm and Lodhi Road, 3 mm.

However, the minimum temperature was 18.2 degrees Celsius, which is two points above the average.

The heavy rains have caused waterlogging in certain areas, such as Burari. Officials informed that traffic police received three calls regarding waterlogging near the Tikri border, the Bagga Link roundabout in Karol Bagh and the Loni Road roundabout.

Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre, said, "An active western disturbance over northwest India is causing rain in the region and hailstorms in some areas. Another western disturbance will start affecting the region (from) Sunday... generally cloudy skies and on-and-off rain will continue over northwest India till March 20-21.

"The precipitation activity is predicted to peak on March 20. The wet spell will keep the mercury in check. Hailstorm is predicted in parts of northwest India, including Delhi-NCR, on March 20," he said.

IMD warned that strong winds and hailstorms would damage crops, plantations etc. Hail could injure people and cattle in open areas, while strong winds could damage fragile structures like Kuccha houses. The department advised people to stay indoors and not take shelter under trees, lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls. It also urged them to keep away from water bodies.

At 6 pm, Delhi's air quality index (AQI) was recorded in the 'moderate' category at 170.