A powerful sandstorm followed by heavy rain swept through Delhi and the NCR last night, leading to the death of at least two people, one of whom was a person with disabilities. Eleven others sustained injuries in various incidents across the city. Nearby regions saw two people die in separate incidents in Ghaziabad, and rain-related mishaps took two more lives in Greater Noida.
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One of the tragic incidents occurred around 7:50 pm near the Lodhi Road flyover in Nizamuddin, where an electricity pole collapsed during the storm and struck a man with disabilities who was riding a tricycle. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he was declared dead. His identity is still unknown. Meanwhile, a Srinagar-bound flight carrying over 200 passengers experienced severe turbulence but managed to land safely, though the aircraft suffered damage. The storm uprooted several trees and poles across Delhi and the NCR, causing widespread destruction to homes and vehicles.
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Deadly Delhi-NCR Storm Hits Hard, IndiGo Flight Faces Turbulence Scare
In another tragic incident, a 22-year-old man named Azhar lost his life in Gokulpuri, northeast Delhi, after a tree fell on him. They rushed him to the hospital in critical condition, but doctors declared him dead. Meanwhile, part of the grill from an old overbridge collapsed in Mukherjee Nagar, injuring six people. In separate incidents, a balcony gave way in the Kashmiri Gate area, injuring a 55-year-old person, and another balcony collapse in Mangolpuri hurt four others, including a woman.
An IndiGo flight to Srinagar carrying over 200 passengers encountered severe turbulence as a sudden storm hit mid-flight. A video circulating online captured panicked passengers screaming inside the shaking aircraft. Despite the intense turbulence, the flight landed safely in Srinagar. IndiGo confirmed that flight 6E 2142 experienced a hailstorm during its journey, and that the crew followed standard safety protocols. The airline said the airport team took care of the passengers upon arrival, and the maintenance crew will inspect the aircraft before clearing it for service. Although IndiGo didn’t detail the damage, a viral image showed that the aircraft’s nose cone had broken.
The storm caused power cuts as trees and poles fell on lines, forcing BSES to shut power in some areas for safety. In Ghaziabad, a tree killed 40-year-old Muzammil on his bike, and a wall collapse killed 38-year-old Panu Devi, injuring four. The storm also damaged homes and hoardings in Noida. In Greater Noida’s Omicron, a falling grill killed a woman and injured her grandson. A teacher, Ramkrishna, died after a tree fell on him during his evening walk in the NTPC township.