Natasha6581 at 01:35, 6 January 2026

2026-01-06T01:35:34Z

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{{short description|Lethal weather phenomenon in India, May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox event|title=2018 Indian dust storms|image=File:North India dust vir 2018165.jpg|image_size=250px|image_upright=|image_alt=|caption=Dust storms over North India|native_name=|native_name_lang=|time=|duration=|date=2–3 May 2018|location=[[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Rajasthan]]|coordinates=|also_known_as=|type=Severe [[gust front]]|cause=|target=|participants=|outcome=|reported deaths=125+|reported injuries=200+<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/03/asia/india-dust-storms-intl/index.html | title = More than 110 killed by high-intensity dust storms in India | first1 = Swati | last1 = Gupta | first2= Ben | last2= Westcott | date = 3 May 2018 | accessdate = 3 May 2018 | work =CNN}}</ref>|reported missing=|reported property damage=|burial=|inquiries=|inquest=|coroner=|publication_bans=|litigation=|blank_label=|blank1_label=|blank2_label=|notes=}}

From 2 to 3 May 2018, high-velocity [[dust storm]]s swept across parts of [[North India]]. 125 people died and over 200 were injured.

In [[Uttar Pradesh]], 43 died in the city of [[Agra]] and about 30 died elsewhere in the state. In neighboring [[Rajasthan]], about 35 people died and over 200 were injured after winds downed more than 8,000 electricity poles and uprooted hundreds of trees. Storms are not uncommon in the region; however, because these storms occurred at night and with greater wind speeds than average (~100 mph), the death toll was higher than usual.

==Background==
Dust storms are a feature of India's seasonal weather patterns.<ref name=Nat_Geo /> The storms typically occur in the summer months, when the weather has been dry to allow dust to be picked up by passing winds. The death toll in such storms rarely exceeds 12; a previous storm hit India on 11 April 2018, killing 19 people<ref name=Nat_Geo /><ref name="bbc">{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-43987209 | title= India dust storms: Nearly 100 killed in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan | work = [[BBC]] |date =3 May 2018 | accessdate = 3 May 2018 }}</ref>

==Dust Storm and its Damage==
[[File:North Indian duststroms(satellite image).jpg|thumb|This is satellite image of india on dates of (a) 28 April, (b) 3 May and (c) 13 May]]<ref>https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602001013/https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/ |date=2 June 2022 }}</ref> The dust storm occurred at the start of India's [[Monsoon of South Asia|monsoon]] season.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web | url = https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/03/asia/india-dust-storms-intl/index.html | title = More than 110 killed by high-intensity dust storms in India | first1 = Swati | last1 = Gupta | first2= Ben | last2= Westcott | date = 3 May 2018 | accessdate = 3 May 2018 | work = [[CNN]] }}</ref> In the days prior, region meteorologists had forecast thunderstorms and high winds to occur over that week. Contributing to the storm was a period of abnormally high temperatures for the region, which increased the intensity of the weather system.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/world/asia/india-dust-storm.html | title = Devastating Dust Storm Strikes India, Killing at Least 94 | first1 = Suhasini | last1 = Raj | first2=Kai | last2 = Schultz | date = 3 May 2018 | accessdate = 3 May 2018 | work = [[The New York Times]] }}</ref>

The dust storm first started late on 2 May 2018, predominantly hitting the states of [[Uttar Pradesh]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/|title=AGU Publications – Wiley Online Library|website=AGU Journals}}</ref> and [[Rajasthan]].<ref name="bbc"/> At least 73 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh, with 43 of those in the city of [[Agra]];<ref name="CNN"/> 21 people have been reported killed in [[Kheragarh]], a town around 50 km south-west of the city.<ref name="bbc"/> At least 35 people were killed in Rajasthan,<ref name="CNN"/> with the [[Alwar district|Alwar]] district being the worst hit; the [[Bharatpur district|Bharatpur]] and [[Dholpur district|Dholpur]] districts were also affected.<ref name="bbc"/> Four people died in the state of [[Uttarakhand]],<ref name="CNN"/> and [[Delhi]] was also affected.<ref name="bbc"/> More than 200 people were injured by the storm.<ref name="CNN"/>

Officials stated that the storm was more devastating than prior dust storms as the stronger weather system carried more debris which caused more damage to homes and buildings, and because it struck at night, most were asleep and were unable to take precautions, leaving many killed or injured by falling structures.<ref name="bbc"/> Most damage and fatalities were associated with high winds, rather than dust.<ref name=Nat_Geo>{{cite journal |url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/india-dust-storm-wind-fatalities-science-spd/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504151543/https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/india-dust-storm-wind-fatalities-science-spd/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 May 2018 |title=Why This Dust Storm in India Turned Deadly |author=Sarah Gibbens |journal=National Geographic |date=3 May 2018 |accessdate=4 May 2018}}</ref> In Rajasthan, electricity supplies were interrupted by 200–300 downed pylons, and schools were closed in the Alwar district.<ref name="bbc"/>

Because conditions were still prime for more severe weather, the Uttar Pradesh government continued to plan to alert its citizens to weather conditions for the following 48 hours.<ref name="CNN"/>

==Aftermath==
The [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]] has announced compensation for the relatives of those killed amounting to {{INRConvert|4|l|lk=on}}.<ref name="bbc"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Disasters in India in 2018}}

[[Category:2018 disasters in India]]
[[Category:2018 natural disasters]]
[[Category:Meteorological events in 2018]]
[[Category:Dust storms]]
[[Category:May 2018 in India]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in India]]
[[Category:Disasters in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Disasters in Rajasthan]]

2018 Indian dust storms - Revision history

Natasha6581 at 01:35, 6 January 2026