India, May 22 -- After a sunny day, the weather turned completely on Wednesday evening as a sudden thunderstorm hit the tricity, bringing gusty winds, hail, and heavy rain. The storm started around 5:15 pm, with wind speeds reaching up to 70km/h and hailstones as large as 2 cm in diameter.

Till 8.30pm, 22.6 mm was recorded at India Meteorological Department's (IMD) observatory in Sector 39, Chandigarh, with 19 mm rain being recorded in just 15 minutes in the evening (5.15- 5.30pm).

In view of the inclement weather conditions, the IMD issued a red alert in the evening, the highest of the four-colour warning system.

The storm caused widespread disruptions, with trees uprooted in several areas, including Sectors 22, 34, 35, and 42, causin...