Last year I was living in Rajasthan. Rajasthan is a desert. Its sand-dunes run into miles. One fine evening I went out for a walk with my friends. We started our walk at 5 p.m. As we were advancing, the sky became overcast with clouds. Then it became red. We saw something floating in the sky. These were the clouds of dense dust particles. Soon we were swept by the wind. The wind was becoming faster and faster every moment. We stood under a tree. Then there came a very powerful puff of wind, full of dust. We were unable to see anything. Then there was a gale.
In this gale, we heard horrible and deafening sounds because of the breaking of the branches of the trees.
We were standing under a tree by catching its trunk tightly with our hands. A complete darkness fell over the entire area. Shrieks and cries of the people were also heard. The roofs of the huts and houses were blown away.
In the meantime, the thunder was heard. Soon, it started raining. It was a heavy downpour. After some time, the dust in the atmosphere settled down. The sky became clear. Now we saw the ravages caused by the duststorm. Many trees had been uprooted. Tin sheets of the roofs of huts and houses had been blown away. Crops were damaged. Some people were seriously wounded. Many families had become homeless. Many cattle had lost their lives by falling into wells.
This was the worst duststorm witnessed by me. We then made our journey back home. On our way there was the same painful scene. At some places the road was blocked by the fallen trees. The aftermath of the duststorm presented a scene of destruction. This would perhaps be one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.
Vocabulary
Puff—breath or wind
Wounded—injured
