Prayagraj: The Sangam city experienced a sudden weather change on Wednesday evening as a duststorm swept through several areas. The strong winds led to a notable drop in temperatures, offering respite from the recent heatwave and rising mercury levels.
Damage and Disruptions
However, the storm also caused damage in many areas, uprooting trees, electric poles, and billboards. Houses, particularly thatched huts and makeshift shops, were damaged due to the high-intensity winds. Most localities faced blackouts for hours due to power outages. Commuters struggled with poor visibility and uprooted trees, while normal life and vehicular traffic in and around Prayagraj remained affected for about an hour.
Weather Conditions
Earlier in the day, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius with humidity levels between 55 and 59 percent. Residents preferred to stay indoors due to the heatwave and humidity, leaving the streets deserted during the afternoon. In the evening, the weather suddenly changed. The Sachet app had already issued an alert for a severe storm with wind speeds exceeding 60 kmph.
Residents were forced to keep doors and windows closed due to the duststorm. “There was a complete blackout and we had to stop our SUV midway due to the strong winds and low visibility,” said Rajul Bhargava, a resident of Civil Lines.
Incident Details
A huge tree was uprooted near Kalyani Devi crossing, damaging a portion of a house and four two-wheelers parked nearby. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident.
About the Author: Kapil Dixit writes on crime, traffic, health, administration, politics, and offbeat stories from Prayagraj. He has extensively covered the Maha Kumbh, Ardh Kumbh, Magh Melas, and state assembly as well as parliamentary polls from 2002 to 2025. His hobbies include reading, writing, and meeting people with diverse interests.
