Unprecedented weather conditions marked by heavy rain, hail storms and high-speed winds lashed several parts of the Delhi region on February 7, covering roads and parks in a white blanket of ice pellets.

The unprecedented weather condition gave the tropical city an unlikely feel of a snowy town.

The sudden storm accompanied by high wind speed brought down at least 25 houses injuring 20 people in Ali Bardipur village at around 8:30 pm.

The injured are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Greater Noida.

The freak weather brought traffic to a stand still and forced Air Traffic Control to divert 14 domestic and four international flights from IGI airport.

Several other flights, which were heading to Delhi, were not allowed to take off from their points of origin.

As the unexpected weather covered Delhi in ice, many residents pulled out their cameras to record the rare event.

Software engineer Nupur Goel said: “I had not seen a hail storm like this in Delhi region ever, roads were covered with a white blanket of hails. It brought back old memories of Kashmir, which I had visited a few years ago.”

Officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a western disturbance that brought snow to Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh was behind the sudden turn in weather in Delhi.