A powerful dust storm swept across Rajasthan’s Bikaner on Saturday afternoon, blanketing the city in thick clouds of dust and dramatically reducing visibility. The sudden weather event transformed broad daylight into an eerie twilight, with residents witnessing what many described as apocalyptic scenes as a towering wall of yellow dust advanced towards the city.
Videos shared widely on social media captured the astonishing scale of the storm, showing massive dust clouds swallowing buildings, roads and open spaces within minutes. The skyline disappeared behind a dense haze, while the city was bathed in an unsettling yellow-brown glow.
Video: Massive Dust Storm Plunges Rajasthan's Bikaner Into Near-Darkness https://t.co/Rg7I8Ans9r pic.twitter.com/6Ng225RSax
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The storm brought normal life to a standstill as strong winds whipped through the city. Visibility dropped sharply on major roads, making driving extremely dangerous and forcing many people to seek shelter indoors. Panic-like situations were reported in some localities as dust-laden gusts intensified and swept through residential and commercial areas.
Markets witnessed scenes of chaos as shopkeepers hurried to pull down shutters to protect goods from the swirling dust. Pedestrians scrambled for cover while businesses temporarily suspended operations amid the deteriorating conditions. Reports also emerged of tree branches snapping under the force of the winds, along with localized power disruptions in parts of the city.
The dust storm was part of a broader spell of unstable weather affecting Rajasthan. Over the past 24 hours, several districts recorded thunderstorms and rainfall, with Bari in Dholpur district receiving the highest precipitation of 58 mm.
The Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has warned of intense thunderstorms and squally weather across several divisions, including Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Kota, Jodhpur and Udaipur. Wind speeds are expected to reach 60-70 kmph in some areas, while isolated pockets may experience heavy rainfall, hailstorms and lightning strikes.
Weather officials have advised residents to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel during adverse conditions and follow local advisories. According to forecasts, the cycle of afternoon thunderstorms and rainfall activity is likely to persist across parts of Rajasthan for the next four to five days, raising the possibility of further weather-related disruptions.
