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A dust storm swept through Delhi on Tuesday evening, sending wind speeds soaring across several parts of the city. The highest reading came from the Palam weather station, where winds reached 120 kmph for a brief period during the evening.

Weather records show that Palam had last seen winds of this strength in June 2001. While the latest storm matched that mark, older records show even higher speeds, with gusts crossing 140 kmph on a few occasions during the late 1980s and 1990s.

The impact of the storm was felt across Delhi. Strong winds were also recorded at Pusa, Safdarjung, Jafarpur and Chhattarpur, while stations in Pitampura, Janakpuri, Lodi Road and Mayur Vihar reported lower readings.

The storm arrived after another very hot day in the capital. Temperatures remained above normal in many areas, with Ridge reporting the highest reading at 44.7 degrees Celsius. Other major weather stations also recorded temperatures above 43 degrees Celsius.

According to Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather, the change in weather was linked to a cyclonic system active over parts of Pakistan and nearby regions. He said the system helped trigger dust storms and scattered rainfall over Delhi.

Similar weather conditions may continue on Wednesday, with chances of strong winds and light rain in some places.

Weather experts expect pre-monsoon activity to pick up from June 11. As a result, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab could receive rain over a wider area during the next few days.

The expected spell of rain may bring relief from the intense heat. Temperatures across the region are likely to fall and may drop below 40 degrees Celsius later this week.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted partly cloudy conditions for Wednesday. Thunderstorms and lightning may occur in isolated areas, while temperatures are expected to remain around 44 degrees Celsius during the day and near 30 degrees Celsius at night.

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The Delhi government has started a new plan to cut dust pollution by improving the way roads are built and maintained. On Monday, the Public Works Department (PWD) signed an agreement with the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA).

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said road upkeep in Delhi will now be based on studies, data, and modern methods instead of old practices. She said fast city growth, heavy traffic, air pollution, and waterlogging have made this change necessary.

A major goal of the plan is to help make Delhi’s roads cleaner and reduce dust in the air. The government will work on green belts along roads, plant more local species, improve rainwater collection, and strengthen drainage systems. Work will also be done on roadside landscaping.

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said the agreement will lead to the creation of a Road Asset Management System (RAMS). This digital system will help officials check road conditions, traffic pressure, road strength, repair needs, and road life more accurately.

RAMS will also keep digital records of roads across the city. This will help departments carry out regular checks and decide which roads need repairs first.

To deal with waterlogging, road levels and drainage networks will be redesigned. Officials said future road designs will also support groundwater recharge.

Several parts of Delhi may face temporary electricity cuts on Sunday, June 7, due to planned repair and maintenance work on the power network.

People living in the affected areas should charge their phones, laptops, power banks, and other important devices before the scheduled shutdown period begins.

Areas Likely to Face Power Cuts

Mundka

9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Tagore Garden

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Nangloi

11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

anakpuri

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Hauz Khas

9:00 AM to 10:30 AM

Power officials said the work is being carried out to keep the electricity system in good condition and help ensure a smoother supply in the coming months.

Advice for Residents

People in these localities should plan their day in advance and complete important tasks before the shutdown starts. It may also help to keep emergency lights, charged batteries, and power banks ready.

If residents face any power-related issue outside the announced timings, they can contact the customer support team of their electricity company.

Power Cuts Reported Across Delhi on June 6

Many areas of Delhi also saw electricity interruptions on Saturday, June 6, due to repair work and system improvement activities.

Palam, Janakpuri, Mundka, Saket, Sarita Vihar and Nangloi were some of the localities that were affected at different hours of the day.