Rain and hailstorm in Haryana: Orange alert issued for 17 districts

A strong Western Disturbance brought a sudden change in weather across Haryana, causing light to heavy rain, lightning, and hailstorms in many parts of the state late Monday night and into Tuesday morning.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for 17 districts, warning of persistent bad weather, including strong winds with speeds of 40-60 kmph.

Main districts affected:

The weather system, which intensified on the night of April 6, has had the greatest impact on the following areas:

Southern and NCR regions: Gurugram, Faridabad, Rewari, Narnaul, Mahendragarh, and Palwal.
Central and Western Haryana: Hisar, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jhajjar, and Charkhi Dadri.
Northern belt: Ambala, Karnal, Jind, Kaithal, and Kurukshetra. In Gurugram and Faridabad, residents reported heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning early in the morning, leading to a sharp drop in night temperatures, which ranged from 14°C to 18°C. Important advice for farmers

Agricultural experts have expressed concern as these rains are occurring at a crucial time for the Rabi crop. Unseasonal moisture and the possibility of hailstorms pose a direct threat to standing wheat crops and harvested produce lying in the open.

These guidelines have been issued:

Protect harvested crops: Farmers have been advised to move harvested wheat and mustard to dry, indoor storage or cover them tightly with good-quality tarpaulins.

Vegetable and horticultural care: Use temporary covers to protect fruit-bearing plants and sensitive vegetable crops from hail damage.

Stop irrigation: Avoid any new irrigation or fertilizer applications during this season to prevent waterlogging and crop collapse. Mandi storage: Grain stored in local mandis (markets) should be placed on platforms to prevent damage from flowing water.
Weather Forecast

According to the IMD, this rainfall will peak on April 8, after which the system will begin to weaken on April 9. While the rain has provided some relief from the rising heat—daytime temperatures are expected to be 3°C to 5°C lower than normal—the threat of thunderstorms remains for the next 24 hours.

Authorities have advised people to stay indoors during lightning strikes and avoid standing under trees or temporary structures during strong winds.