'Felt like a 20-minute earthquake': Dust storm brings Delhi-NCR to a standstill

A ferocious dust storm, coupled with gusty winds and heavy rains, crippled Delhi-NCR on Friday. The storm created massive disruption, felling trees, and crippling traffic in large parts of the city. People described the storm on social media using dramatic images and videos of the aftermath. The severity of the storm was such that buildings were shaken, and lights and fans were flailing wildly. One resident who was on the 20th floor of a building narrated the experience as follows, "My building is literally shaking right now. Lights in my apartment are swinging like a pendulum. Feels like a 20-minute earthquake."

Flights diversion and turbulence

The storm also had an impact on air travel, with over 15 flights diverted at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. A passenger on an IndiGo flight from Jammu to Delhi described the experience, saying the plane encountered tremendous turbulence after it was diverted several times.

Flight Indigo 6E2397 jammu To delhi experiencing a dust storm, affecting takeoffs and landings and potentially causing air traffic congestion at delhi airport we are diverted to jaipur after long 4 hrs waiting to land at delhi now waiting in aircraft at jaipur airport for… pic.twitter.com/2GDeO19UK1

— Dr. Safeer Choudhary (@aapkasafeer) April 11, 2025

Damage and disruption

The storm was devastating, with trees that were uprooted smashing into cars and signboards that fell. Footage posted on social media captured the magnitude of the destruction, including grey skies, strong winds, and poor visibility.

Dust storm in Gurgaon. It was like apocalypse.pic.twitter.com/f6I1HjaH0s

— Tarun 𝕏 (@AsTarunTweets) April 11, 2025

Weather forecast

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted thunder showers on Saturday, with the maximum temperature likely to be around 35 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature likely to be around 20 degrees Celsius. There will be clear skies in the next two days.