17 people killed as thunderstorm strikes UP again

LUCKNOW: THUNDERSTORMS ALSO TORE THROUGH VARIOUS PARTS OF JHARKHAND AND BIHAR WHERE 12 AND 19 PEOPLE WERE KILLED, RESPECTIVELY

At least 17 people were killed and 10 others injured in a thunderstorm that lashed six districts of Uttar Pradesh on Monday evening and Tuesday morning, officials said.

Meteorological department has predicted thunderstorms in some parts of central Uttar Pradesh in the next 24 hours.

According to the information released by the state government, six people died and three others suffered injuries in Unnao after two houses collapsed in the thunderstorm.

Three people died in Rae Bareli while two deaths each were reported from Kanpur city, Pilibhit, Gonda and Sitapur.

“The alert was issued after we observed some atmospheric changes in these parts,” director, Met office, JP Gupta said, adding that thunderstorm was a local phenomena experienced for short duration.

“These local disturbances do not have any pattern which makes it difficult to make any forecast. Such storms are often reported in May and June before the arrival of monsoon,” Gupta added. More than 70 people have been killed in thunderstorms in west UP districts in the first week of May.

Thunderstorms also tore through various parts of the country, including Jharkhand, and Bihar, over the last 48 hours, ANI quoted officials as saying on Tuesday.

Jharkhand reported the deaths of 12 people and the toll in Bihar stood at 19.

While Gaya and Aurangabad districts reported five deaths each, four died in Munger, three in Katihar and two in Nawada, said the disaster management department. Of the 19 deaths, at least 11 people died due to lightning in Aurangabad, Munger and Nawada and eight deaths were reported due to felling of tree or house collapse.

No loss of crop has been reported from any district due to thundershower, said DMD officer-on-special duty Avinash Kumar.

The state government would provide an ex gratia of ~4 lakh each to the next of kin of those who died due to the natural calamity.“We have released funds to the districts concerned as per norms of the state disaster response fund. The respective district magistrates have to ascertain the reason of death and provide ex gratia to the bereaved family,” he said.