Delhi witnessed a sudden dust storm with strong winds and light rain.

• It was the result of a combination of factors including a western disturbance, easterly winds, and high temperatures that led to the formation of convective clouds and strong winds.

About Dust Storm

• Dust storms are created when strong and turbulent winds lift up particles of dust/sand to great height. 
• A dust storm is associated with a thunderstorm (characterized by rain and lightning) and generally occurs in arid and semi-arid regions.
  • These are frequent in northern Africa, Middle East, Central Asia and North India.
  • Northwest India experiences convective dust storms, locally called “aandhi” with frequency being maximum over Rajasthan followed by Haryana, Punjab and West Uttar Pradesh. 
• According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the severity and frequency of dust storms will rise due to rising global temperature.

Impact of Dust Storms

• These can trigger respiratory ailments in humans.
• Dust particles act as a carrier for infectious diseases.
• These can destroy crops, reduce visibility and ground flights.
• These transport nutrients to the oceans and affect marine biomass production.