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Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Delhi logs light rain, yellow alert on till Friday
New Delhi Visitors to Kartavya Path enjoy a spell of rain. (RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO) Delhi on Wednesday experienced light rainfall at isolated stretches and also recorded spells of lighting accompanied by strong surface winds, prompting the authorities to issue a yellow alert for Thursday and Friday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Officials said that there was no alert in place for Wednesday, but this was changed to a yellow alert during the day as gusty winds started approaching the Capital by late afternoon. They said heavy rainfall has been recorded in many areas across the country as the southwest monsoon is likely advancing towards the Arabian Sea. IMD predicted a partly cloudy sky for Thursday, and a generally cloudy sky towards the evening. 'Very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning and strong surface winds during evening to night is expected. Wind speed may increase temporarily up to 30-40kmph, gusting to 50kmph, during the thunderstorm. The maximum and minimum temperatures over Delhi are likely to be in the range of 36 degrees Celsius (°C) to 38°C and 24°C to 26°C respectively,' an IMD official said. Officials said the Capital could expect light rain on Friday and Saturday as well. Rain and cloudy conditions since Wednesday afternoon brought down the mercury level, and winds in the evening gave the Capital a chilly feel. The minimum temperature on Wednesday at the Safdarjung observatory, Delhi's base weather station, was 24.8°C, about 0.3°C below normal for this time of the year, but 2.1°C more than the minimum recorded a day before. The maximum temperature was 36.5°C, which was 2.8°C below normal. IMD has forecast the maximum to remain in the 34-36°C zone on Thursday, but then increase by a couple of degrees over the next two days. However, no heatwave condition has been predicted for the next week. Experts said the frequent rain spells in March and April can be attributed to the western disturbances hitting the northern plains more frequently this year. 'One after another, multiple western disturbances have been hitting the northern plains that are usually restricted to the lower Himalayas by the end of March. This, combined with cyclonic circulations from the Arabian Sea and moisture from Rajasthan side, are bringing frequent rains,' said Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet. He said that the scattered light rainy conditions, thunderstorms and winds are likely to continue for the next four to five days and the temperature is likely to stay below normal. The wind and rain also helped reduce pollution levels in Delhi on Wednesday as the city recorded a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 153 ('moderate'), according to the Central Pollution Control Board's daily national bulletin. The AQI was 141 ('moderate') the day before. The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi has forecasted the AQI to stay in the 'moderate' category until Saturday at the earliest. 'The air quality is likely to be in the moderate category from Thursday to Saturday. The outlook for the subsequent six days is that the air quality is likely to be in the moderate category,' the AQEWS bulletin said on Wednesday evening.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Security mock drills across India today: What's open and what's closed
To determine civil defence preparedness during the time of crisis, security mock drills will be conducted across India on Wednesday as directed by the Union Home Ministry. The directions came on Monday amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. A rehearsal mock drill conducted by the Local NGO and scout volunteers at the Bara Tooti Chowk in Sadar Bazar Market in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.(RAJ K RAJ/HT) Hours ahead of the planned security drills across India, Indian security forces caught Pakistan unawares and conducted 'Operation Sindoor', striking nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) during the early hours of Wednesday. Track live updates on security mock drills across India today here. Amid escalating security risks, it becomes crucial to review whether districts across India are prepared for it. Indian metro cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai are among the most vulnerable locations identified in India, along with cities that have vital installations such as nuclear plants, refineries and more. In most locations, security drills are likely to be conducted at 4 pm, however, timings may change in different districts. Also read: Mock drills across India on May 7: Will there be power cuts? Will banks remain closed? FAQs answered Here's what opened and what's not for security drills- All educational institutions including schools, and colleges across India will stay open on May 7 in most areas. However, schools in parts of some states such as Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan have been shut following 'Operation Sindoor'. In Rajasthan, all schools in four border districts have been closed following air strikes in Pakistan by Indian forces. Banks will mostly remain open on Wednesday. All public transport services such as metros, buses, trains and flights will also run as scheduled. However, some airports have been closed on Wednesday after India's 'Operation Sindoor'. Essential services such as hospitals, emergency response teams, and utilities will also remain fully functional. What's the objective of mock drills The primary objectives of the mock drill include assessment of the effectiveness of air raid warning systems, operationalisation of hotline/radio communication links with the Indian Air Force, testing of the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms and training of civilians, students, etc., on civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack.
