Dust storms and lightning kill at the very least 96 folks in northern India

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Dust storms, heavy rain, and lightning broken properties and different constructions and killed at the very least 96 folks in northern India, officers mentioned Thursday.

The storms additionally injured greater than 50 folks as they swept throughout a number of districts late Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state.

Officials mentioned some deaths have been attributable to falling timber, collapsing constructions and lightning. Police and catastrophe response groups used chainsaws and cranes to clear fallen timber from roads and railway tracks in a number of districts.

Storms are widespread in northern India throughout the scorching season from March to June, earlier than the annual monsoon rains arrive.

Narendra N. Srivastava, an administrative official, mentioned emergency groups have been deployed throughout the affected areas and that properties, crops and energy infrastructure have been broadly broken, notably in rural districts.

In Prayagraj district, residents described panic as robust winds tore by means of neighborhoods.

“The storm came suddenly and the sky turned completely dark within minutes,” Ram Kishore mentioned. “Tin roofs were flying and people ran indoors. We could hear trees falling throughout the evening.”

In neighboring Bhadohi district, Savitri Devi mentioned her household narrowly escaped after robust winds broken their mud home.

“We rushed exterior when the partitions began shaking due to the wind. Our roof collapsed moments later. We spent the evening at a relative’s home,” she mentioned.

Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered officers to finish reduction operations inside 24 hours and directed authorities to supply compensation and emergency help to affected households.