Thunderstorms Hit North India, Over 20 Dead; Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad Worst Affected
It must be noted that Uttar Pradesh witnessed winds with speed of 100 kilometres (60 miles) an hour which toppled walls, power pylons and thousands of trees.
New Delhi, June 2: Thunderstorms and rainfall have created a havoc in northern states of India claiming over 18 lives so far. About 18 people were reported dead and nine others left injured after a thunderstorm hit Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Friday. Two people were killed in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, which is the worst affected while four people were killed in hill state Uttarakhand's Mandal region.
It must be noted that Uttar Pradesh witnessed winds with speed of 100 kilometres (60 miles) an hour which toppled walls, power pylons and thousands of trees.
The UP-government spokesperson today said that most of the deaths were caused due to the falling of trees and house collapse. According to reports, trees, electric poles and hoardings also fell down at some place. Earlier on Thursday, India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning of a thunderstorm with strong winds and rain in various parts of Uttar Pradesh.
More than 400 injured in five states due to thunderstorm and lightning in May first week. Earlier this month, a storm had killed 134 people in several districts and injured over 400 in five states of India. On May 9, a severe storm left 18 dead and 27 others injured across various states. On May 13, 39 people died in various districts including Bareilly, Barabanki, Bulandshahr and Lakhimpur Khiri districts.
It must be noted that Uttar Pradesh was the worst hit that witnessed 80 deaths majority of them in Agra district. According to a PTI report, the death toll due to thunderstorm and lightning in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan had reached 124 in May first week. Giving further details about the casualties caused due to a thunderstorm, at least 73 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh, 35 killed in Rajasthan, eight in Telangana, six in Uttarakhand and two in Punjab.
The Met Department on Saturday issued storm warnings as the minimum temperature was recorded at 26.6 degrees Celsius. “The sky was mainly clear in the morning. However, there is a possibility of dust storms and thunderstorms towards the afternoon and evening,” an India Meteorological Department official forecast for the National Capital Region said.
Reports inform that around 40 people died as thunderstorm and lightning struck different parts of the state on Wednesday. Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad witnessed dust storms with speed of 40 kmph on Friday, bringing some relief from the sultry weather.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 02, 2018 04:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).