Video: Giant dust storm gobbles up houses in Rajasthan's Churu

A massive dust storm swept through Rajasthan's Churu district on Saturday afternoon, shrouding the sky in dust and turning day into night. Dramatic visuals showed thick clouds of sand engulfing homes and drastically reducing visibility.

The dust storm, which struck around 2 pm, reduced visibility to just a few metres in several areas, including Churu and Sardarshahar. Vehicles slowed down or stopped altogether, with drivers forced to switch on their headlights to navigate through the dense dust cloud.

The storm arrived with wind speeds of nearly 70 kmph and lasted for around half an hour. The sudden change in weather triggered chaos in markets as people rushed indoors to escape the strong winds and swirling dust.

The dust storm was followed by rainfall in several parts of Churu district, bringing much-needed relief from the intense heat. Weather officials said the dust storm and subsequent rain led to a temperature drop of up to 8 degrees Celsius. There were concerns that the dust storm may have damaged trees, crops and power lines in several areas.