A severe dust storm has hit the national capital Delhi this evening

Highlights The dust storm brought down the temperature rapidly, bringing respite

Temperature in Delhi had touched 48 degrees on Monday

Weather department said temperatures were expected to dip

Operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport were halted for nearly an hour and some flights diverted after a severe dust storm hit the national capital and adjoining areas this evening. The dust storm also brought down the temperature rapidly, bringing some respite from the sizzling heat wave. Temperature in the national capital had touched 48 degrees on Monday, the highest-ever recorded in June.

Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Skymet, said in a tweet that the national capital's temperature dropped by seven degrees in a span of just half an hour.

"At 18.30 it was 40, dropped to 33 degree at 19.00 hours. All thanks to #Duststorm and #rain," he tweeted.

The weather department had said on Tuesday that temperatures were expected to dip. Private weather agency Skymet said heavy rain was expected across the National Capital Region.

Along with Delhi, the dust storm also hit Noida

"Earlier, (dry summer) wind used to come from the western side of Rajasthan. However, the direction of the wind has changed. As a result, we have witnessed a temperature fall of two-three degrees in all the North Indian states. It is expected to continue for the next three days and there will be a full respite to the heat wave in the region," a senior Met department official told news agency ANI.

The impact of Cyclone Vayu, due to hit the Gujarat coastline tomorrow, could play a role in temperature dropping, a senior weather department official had said.

"Definitely, just the way Delhi is getting affected by the western disturbances, Cyclone Vayu will have an impact on the weather conditions. However, a dust storm or thunderstorm can be predicted in the upcoming days in the northern region," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Dust storm in Delhi as seen at Janpath Road

The weather department has also predicted rain over South-West Delhi, South Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, Jahangirabad, Aurangabad, Hapur, Etah, Sahaswan, Aligarh, Jattari, Khair, Farukhnagar and Ghaziabad during next 2 hours, reported ANI.

The country is currently dealing with the worst heat wave it has experienced, with four cities in North India, Delhi included, recording sky-high temperatures.

Rajasthan's Churu is the hottest among these cities, crossing 50 degrees twice, 8 degrees above its normal temperature at this time of the year.

Trees were uprooted at some places in Delhi after a severe dust storm hit the national capital today.



Private weather forecasting agency Skymet has also predicted heavy rain. #DustStorm#DelhiWeather#Delhipic.twitter.com/FLWha5QIxw - NDTV (@ndtv) June 12, 2019

Banda and Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh come a close second and third, at 49.2 and 48.9 degrees respectively.

Heat waves are declared when temperatures cross 45 degrees celsius and above for two consecutive days. A "severe" tag is attached when temperature reaches 47 degrees.

(With Inputs From ANI)