72 people killed in deadly dust storm in India

International Desk: At least 72 people have been killed as a massive storm swept across parts of north India, including Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan last night, leaving a trail of destruction.

Although the storm passed within an hour, the destruction it caused is still visible in several districts of affected states, with collapsed houses, uprooted trees and electricity poles.

In Uttar Pradesh, at least 45 people have been killed with 36 casualties in Agra Zone alone. Officials said that the death toll may cross 50 as many of the injured are still critical.

"As per figures received till noon, 45 people were killed and 38 injured in the dust storm in different parts of the state," Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar told PTI.

18 people were killed in Khairabad, 9 in Fatehabad, 4 in Bah, 2 each in Etmadpur and Kirwali area in Agra as winds at the speed of 132 km/hour, with a massive thunder and hailstorm, lashed the entire region.

In many areas, the power supply is yet to be restored.

Other districts affected were Bijnor, Bareli, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao where people died after houses and trees collapsed.

Three persons died in Bijnor, two in Saharanpur and one each in Bareilly, Chitrakoot, Raebareli and Unnao districts, Kumar said.

In Rajasthan, at least 27 people were killed and nearly 100 injured as a high-intensity squall followed by thundershowers hit parts of the state overnight. Most deaths were reported from Bharatpur district where at least 12 people lost their lives.

"So far, 27 people have died due to the disaster, including 12 in Bharatpur, 10 in Dholpur and 5 in Alwar. The squall was reported mainly in three districts," Secretary, Disaster Management and Relief, Hemant Kumar Gera told PTI.

He said nearly 100 were injured in the disaster.

20 were injured in Alwar, 32 in Bharatpur and 50 in Dholpur respectively. "A few are undergoing primary treatment while others were discharged. One critical patient from Dholpur was referred to Jaipur," he said.

Heavy rains and dust storm also lashed Uttarakhand, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. In Uttarakhand, the rains affected the ongoing Char Dham pilgrimage with roads being blocked with debris. Electricity supply was also affected in several areas with uprooted electricity poles and trees.

Capital Delhi was also hit by a squall and dust storm followed by heavy rain on Wednesday evening. A squall with a wind speed of 59 km per hour hit the city at 16.45 pm and continued till 16.47 pm, MeT Department said. 15 flights, including two international, were diverted due to the bad weather, airport officials said.

 

Source: Agencies

 

risingbd/Dhaka/May 03, 2018/A K Azad