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Noida society ravaged by storm: Shop flies off, high-rise windows collapse

A sudden heavy dust storm hit Delhi-NCR on Friday evening, causing widespread damage across Noida and surrounding areas. Residents witnessed scenes of destruction as windows shattered, doors collapsed, and air conditioner units were torn from their mounts due to the gusty winds in JP Aman Society in Sector 151. A video widely circulated on social media captured the storm's severity, showing a shop near the society being blown away 'like a house of cards' in the high-speed winds. The clip, shot by local residents, shows near-zero visibility due to dense dust clouds before the shop structure is uprooted entirely. #नोएडा में धूलभरी आंधी ने मचाई तबाही। #Jaypee #Aman #सोसायटी के बाहर बना Safal Store ताश के पत्तों की तरह उड़ गया #Noida #noidagbnup16 #NoidaAuthority — Gaurav Sharma Advocate(मोदी जी का परिवार) (@gauravBJPGBN) May 17, 2025 In the society, several residential buildings suffered extensive damage. Parked vehicles were hit by falling debris and tree branches, while entry gates were reportedly torn off. Residents also reported that heavy AC units crashed down from building exteriors. Watch the devastation caused by the storm in Noida. This video is from JP Aman Society, where even the windows and doors of the flats were torn off. Homebuyers are furious, alleging extremely poor construction quality in the building of these flats. — Kunal Verma (@thekunalverma) May 17, 2025 The storm extended its impact to Greater Noida's Jewar area, where trees and electricity poles were uprooted in villages like Salarpur, Atta Gujran, Kanarsi, Junedpur, and Bilaspur. Multiple areas experienced power outages, and traffic disruptions were reported along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway until emergency teams cleared the roads. Delhi sees temperature dip, pollution persists While the sudden storm brought brief relief from the heat, it failed to improve the region's air quality. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), wind speeds reached 40–50 km/h, with light rainfall recorded across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad. Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 278 — still in the 'poor' category. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan, citing meteorological conditions as a barrier to expected air quality improvement. Wazirpur recorded the highest PM10 concentration at 847 µg/m³, over eight times the safe limit. Anand Vihar, Rohini, and Bawana also reported severe pollution levels. Delhi's power demand hits seasonal peak Despite cooler temperatures, Delhi recorded its highest peak power demand of the summer at 6,867 Mw on Friday afternoon, according to the State Load Dispatch Centre. Officials expect this figure to exceed 9,000 MW in the coming weeks, surpassing last year's record of 8,656 MW. More rain forecast in coming days The IMD has predicted thunderstorms and strong winds for Saturday, with further relief expected from May 19 to 22. Daytime temperatures are forecast to range between 25°C and 38°C, with rain likely to gradually reduce both heat and pollution levels. Rainfall recorded in different areas of Delhi: - Ayanagar: 7.2 mm - Ridge: 3 mm - Pusa: 2.5 mm - Pitampura: 2 mm - Lodi Road: 1.3 mm - Safdarjung: 1.4 mm - Najafgarh, Narela: 1 mm - Palam: 0.3 mm Meanwhile, officials have urged caution as strong surface winds and further weather disturbances are expected through the weekend.