JAIPUR: A massive dust storm swept across a highway in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Monday, reducing visibility to near zero and severely disrupting traffic movement as thick clouds of dust and strong winds engulfed the stretch.The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Jaipur centre has forecast an intensification of pre-monsoon activity across parts of the state from June 16.Thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and scattered rainfall are expected to provide relief from the prevailing hot and humid conditions.Weather activity has already picked up across Rajasthan over the past two days, with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms reported from several districts in eastern Rajasthan, while isolated showers were recorded in parts of the western region.According to the weather office, an active western disturbance, coupled with moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea, continued to influence weather conditions across the state on Sunday and Monday. Several districts, including Ajmer, Kota, Tonk, Dausa and Chittorgarh, witnessed rain and dust storms as the system strengthened.
