By Elton Gomes
Dust storms and squall across various parts of India have taken the lives of more than 70 people, according to officials. The storms were accompanied by lightning, heavy rain, gusts of wind, hailstorms, and wreaked havoc in several parts of the country on Sunday. The weather office has also issued a warning for more thunderstorms in north, north-east and parts of south India over the next 48 hours.
Here’s what happened
There were a total of 42 deaths in Uttar Pradesh while 84 others were injured in the calamity. At least 14 people have died and 15 injured in West Bebgal, as per a disaster management official. In Andhra Pradesh, 12 people lost their lives due to lightning, while three persons were injured. Seven deaths were reported from Srikakulam district alone. Two other persons were killed in Kadapa. In New Delhi, two persons died and 18 people were injured.
A total of 28 people were injured on account of inclement weather conditions in Uttar Pradesh. Deaths in the state were reported from Kasganj, Bulandshahr, Saharanpur, Ghaziabad, Kannauj, Aligarh, Hapur, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Sambhal, according to the state government.
News agency ANI tweeted that fire broke out in Rajpura area of Sambhal city in UP. At least 10 huts caught fire due to lightning in Sanota village, Bulandshahr.
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport was badly affected as flight operations were kept on hold for more than one hour on Sunday evening.
There might be some relief for residents of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan by Wednesday, although thunderstorms, rain, and gusty winds can still be expected in some areas during the week. Some areas of northern states can expect hail, whereas some isolated areas in Rajasthan could witness dust storms.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met with disaster management officials to review the current situation, as the state experienced large-scale casualties following previous thunderstorms.
Storms last week
Approximately 100 people lost their lives in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan after a dust storm left behind a severe trail of destruction on May 3. Later that day, the IMD had indicated the possibility of another thunderstorm in West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha. It was reported that over the next two days, dust storms might adversely affect Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
The India Meteorological Department said in its latest forecast, “the western disturbance that is bringing moisture from Eurasian water bodies and north and northwest India” will continue to affect weather in the hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal and Uttarakhand, and in the plains of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Elton Gomes is a staff writer at Qrius
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