Thunderstorms, rains likely to hit 13 states, 2 UTs today; Haryana schools shut

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Delhi is among 13 states and two UTs likely to face thunderstorm today; Haryana has closed schools for today and tomorrow as a precautionary measure

Thunderstorms accompanied by squall, hail and heavy rains are likely to occur in at least 13 states and two Union Territories across the country today, the Home Ministry said. Thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail are very likely at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh while thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely on Monday at isolated places in Uttarakhand and Punjab.

Heavy rains are likely tomorrow at isolated places over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, a Home Ministry official said on Sunday quoting an Indian Meteorological Department advisory. A thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh.

Dust storm and thunderstorm are also likely at isolated places in West Rajasthan, the official said.

Following the advisory, Haryana Government has decided that all government and private schools will remain closed on these two days.

State Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said the decision to keep schools closed on May 7 and 8 has been taken in view of the MeT Department's warning.

The weatherman has forecast thunderstorm with squall at isolated places in the state on May 7 and thunderstorm with squall and hail at some places on May 8.

In view of the warning, the Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Department, in an advisory, has suggested safety tips to be adopted in case of thunderstorms, dust storms and squall.