India, April 30 -- A heavy hailstorm has hit parts of Delhi-NCR, with an Orange alert already issued for Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad.

Pictures and videos on social media show big hailstones falling in Ghaziabad and other parts of NCR.

While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast very light to light rainfall, thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty winds(40-50kmph) during the afternoon, it turned out to be an intense hailstorm in several parts of the region.

IMD has issued an orange alert for Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad, predicting rain and thunderstorms on Thursday evening, while Gurugram and Faridabad are under a yellow alert. The outer parts of the NCR, like Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, are already under a red alert...