New Delhi: The historic Jama Masjid in Delhi was damaged in a storm that was accompanied by heavy rains in Delhi on Monday evening. The storm damaged a finial on the main dome of the Jama Masjid and some stones of the mosque structure also fell off. In Delhi, strong winds caused power outages at several places in the city and uprooted trees.
Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, stated that two persons were hurt when stones fell from one of the minarets and other portions of the mosque, news agency PTI reported.
“The Kalas (finial) of the main dome fell off. It needs urgent repair to prevent further damages. Some stones of the mosque structure also loosened and fell off. I will write to the Prime Minister for immediate repair of the mosque roping in Archaeological Survey of India,” Bukhari informed PTI.
#WATCH | The middle dome finial of Jama Masjid in Delhi suffered damages in the heavy rain and thunderstorm earlier this evening. pic.twitter.com/bWyV0S37EW
– ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2022
Officials from the Delhi Waqf Board said a team was dispatched to the Jama Masjid to evaluate and assess the damage.
Middle dome finial broke into 3 parts, 2 fell down, one is still stuck. If not brought down & it falls, it’ll damage the wall before it. I’m writing to ASI DG to bring down the damaged portion. Falling stones injured 2-3 people: Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam, Delhi’s Jama Masjid pic.twitter.com/R6aiw1qte1
– ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2022
On Monday, parts of Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) witnessed heavy rain, gusting winds, and thunderstorms, lowering the temperature and offering relief from the sweltering heat.
A hailstorm also hit areas of the nation’s capital, causing traffic to come to a standstill. A big number of trees were also uprooted, causing damage to buildings and automobiles. The international airport’s flight schedule was disrupted.
The heavy rain and thunderstorm also toppled the canopy at Vijay Chowk, news agency ANI reported.
#WATCH | Delhi: Heavy rain and thunderstorm topples the canopy at Vijay Chowk. pic.twitter.com/u5sogqiqNT
– ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2022
Visuals posted by Delhi residents on Twitter show cars shaking on the roads. Another video shared by a journalist shows ACs dangling from a building that houses several media firms.
#WATCH | Delhi: Installed air conditioners fell down a building in Parliament Street area, trees uprooted and fell on cars and autorickshaws in the heavy rain and thunderstorm earlier this evening. pic.twitter.com/Hvjr4h4ES9
– ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2022
#WATCH | Bus trapped under an uprooted tree in the aftermath of a hailstorm in Delhi, causing traffic snarls near Sanchar Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/4Z91pAofpR
– ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2022
Earlier, the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC) in Delhi predicted thunderstorms and gusty winds of 30-50 km/h across neighbouring regions of West, North-West, South, and South-West Delhi.
A day ago, the national capital had mild to moderate rain as well as strong gusts. Residents in Delhi and its neighbouring areas have been delighted by the occasional light rain.
The lowest temperature in Delhi on Monday morning was 27.8 degrees Celsius, a bit over the season’s normal, with the meteorological service forecasting gloomy conditions for the city.
(With Agencies Inputs)