Rajasthan dust storm: Winds hit 102 kmph, Red Alert in 10 districts on May 30
Synopsis
Winds hitting 102 kmph, daytime darkness, a tin shed narrowly missing a 65-year-old man — Rajasthan's 30 May dust storm was among the most intense pre-monsoon weather events to hit the state this season. With Red Alerts active across 10 districts and the storm system still advancing, the disruption is far from over.
Key Takeaways
A Western Disturbance triggered dust storms, rain, and hail across Rajasthan on 30 May , with wind speeds reaching 102 kmph .
Districts affected include Churu , Hanumangarh , Sri Ganganagar , Bikaner , Jaisalmer , Nagaur , Alwar , and Sikar .
In Chomu near Jaipur, a 15 ft x 27 ft tin shed was hurled onto a service road, narrowly missing a 65-year-old resident.
Lightning struck a rooftop water tank in Ratangarh , Churu, collapsing part of a terrace wall.
The Meteorological Department issued Red Alerts for 10 districts and Orange Alerts for 6 districts .
Trees were uprooted and power supply was disrupted across multiple districts; waterlogging was reported in Bhilwara .
A powerful Western Disturbance swept across Rajasthan on Saturday, 30 May, unleashing widespread dust storms, rain, and hail that disrupted normal life across multiple districts. Wind speeds reached up to 102 kmph in several areas, plunging parts of the state into daytime darkness and forcing motorists to switch on headlights mid-afternoon.
Districts Hit and Wind Speeds
Sandstorms tore through Churu, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Alwar, and Sikar. The storm system is reported to have originated over Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar, where initial wind speeds of around 56 kmph were recorded before intensifying sharply. Ajmer and Jodhpur witnessed rain accompanied by strong winds, while rural parts of Jaipur experienced rainfall and hailstorms.
In Jaisalmer's Ramdevra and nearby villages, dust storms struck at around 6.40 pm, leaving markets and streets deserted. Tin sheds were blown away before rainfall followed. Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh district saw a sudden dust storm at approximately 8.10 pm, sharply reducing visibility as thick clouds of dust engulfed the area.
Damage and Near Misses
Strong winds uprooted trees and disrupted electricity supply across several districts. In Chomu, near Jaipur, a dramatic incident was captured on CCTV: a tin shed measuring nearly 15 feet by 27 feet, attached to a shop near the Rampura culvert, was ripped off by the storm and hurled onto a service road. The shed narrowly missed 65-year-old Ramsharan Sharma, who escaped injury by a matter of feet.
In Ratangarh, Churu district, lightning struck a rooftop water tank, damaging it and causing a section of the terrace wall to collapse. Bhilwara witnessed rain following a dust storm during the night, leading to waterlogging on city roads. Pali district also faced severe disruption, with power outages reported in several areas and pedestrians forced to seek shelter.
Met Department Alerts
The Meteorological Department issued a Red Alert for heavy rain and strong winds — with gusts up to 80 kmph — in Phalodi, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Sikar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Beawar, Tonk, and Dausa. Orange Alerts were simultaneously issued for Balotra, Kotputli-Behror, Alwar, Khairthal-Tijara, Sawai Madhopur, and Karauli. Satellite imagery on Saturday confirmed the storm system was advancing rapidly across the state.
Relief and Disruption
While the weather shift brought much-needed respite from Rajasthan's intense summer heat, it also caused localised damage to property and infrastructure. This is consistent with the pattern of late-May Western Disturbances interacting with pre-monsoon heat over northwest India, producing sudden, high-intensity dust and rain events. Authorities have urged residents in alerted districts to remain indoors and avoid travel during peak storm hours.
Point of View
And Rajasthan's 30 May event fits a troubling pattern: wind speeds that would have been exceptional a decade ago are now recurring pre-monsoon features. The Red Alert coverage across 10 districts signals that forecasting has improved, but the near-miss in Chomu — a tin shed missing an elderly man by feet — underlines that infrastructure preparedness has not kept pace. Rajasthan's semi-urban and rural areas remain acutely vulnerable to sudden storm damage, and the absence of any reported structural mitigation measures in market areas is a governance gap worth scrutinising before the monsoon season proper arrives.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the dust storm in Rajasthan on 30 May?
The dust storm was triggered by a Western Disturbance that swept across Rajasthan on 30 May, producing wind speeds of up to 102 kmph along with rain and hail across multiple districts. The storm system originated over Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar before intensifying.
Which districts in Rajasthan were worst affected by the storm?
Churu, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Alwar, and Sikar were among the worst-hit districts. Ajmer and Jodhpur also witnessed rain with strong winds, while rural Jaipur experienced hailstorms.
What Red and Orange Alerts did the Meteorological Department issue?
The Meteorological Department issued a Red Alert — warning of winds up to 80 kmph and heavy rain — for Phalodi, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Sikar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Beawar, Tonk, and Dausa. Orange Alerts were issued for Balotra, Kotputli-Behror, Alwar, Khairthal-Tijara, Sawai Madhopur, and Karauli.
Was anyone injured in the Rajasthan dust storm?
No injuries were confirmed in reports. In Chomu near Jaipur, a large tin shed was ripped off and landed on a service road, narrowly missing 65-year-old Ramsharan Sharma, who escaped unhurt. Property damage including collapsed walls and uprooted trees was reported across several districts.
How does this storm compare to typical pre-monsoon weather in Rajasthan?
Western Disturbances triggering dust storms are a recurring pre-monsoon feature in Rajasthan, but wind speeds of 102 kmph are on the higher end of the historical range for May. The combination of sandstorms, lightning, hail, and rain across so many districts simultaneously points to an unusually intense weather system for this time of year.
