Overview
- The dust and sand storms swept large parts of Rajasthan on May 30–31, plunging towns such as Churu, Bikaner and Jaisalmer into near darkness and sharply reducing visibility.
- High gusts uprooted trees, tore off tin roofs and hoardings, caused local power outages and halted traffic, while authorities reported no major casualties.
- The India Meteorological Department and state disaster agencies issued red, orange and yellow alerts and warned that dust storms, gusty winds and isolated heavy rain or hail could persist for several days.
- Rainfall that followed the storms (for example Churu 14.8 mm and Pilani 10.4 mm) cooled temperatures and cleared some dust, but satellites and forecasts show elevated dust levels may return later in the week.
- Researchers and officials link frequent pre-monsoon dust surges to intense surface heating and to long-term degradation of the Aravalli hills, which weakens a natural barrier that helps stop Thar dust reaching the northern plains and Delhi-NCR.