DUSTY TRAIL OF DEATH IN UP, RAJ
ANOTHER STORM BREWING
A dust storm, accompanied by rain, left a deadly trail across Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Wednesday night, killing more than 100 people, uprooting trees and flattening houses. In UP, 73 people died -- 43 of them in Agra alone. In Rajasthan, the toll was 36. The storm left its footprint in the national capital too, but no loss or collateral damage were reported. Meanwhile, a weather office person said another dust storm may hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the next 48 hours due to a cyclonic circulation formation in the region.
A storm barrelled through a swathe of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, killing at least 106 people in a trail of destruction that brought down mud houses, uprooted trees and flattened crops, officials said on Thursday.
At least 183 others were injured as a massive dust storm last night, followed by thunder showers, snapped power lines and sent tin roofs and street hoardings flying in parts of eastern Rajasthan and the adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh.
Seventy people were killed in UP and 83 injured. In Rajasthan, 36 died and another 100 were injured as winds over 100 kmph hit the region around 7 pm.
The worst period lasted about 45 minutes, according to reports from Dholpur in Rajasthan. But the extent of the damage was known only this morning, reports PTI.
The Met department on Thursday predicted another dust storm in parts of Rajasthan and UP in the next 48 hours.
In UP, Agra district was the worst hit, accounting for at least 43 deaths and injuries to 51 others, officials said.
Besides Agra, the other storm-hit UP districts were Bijnor, Bareli, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao.
In Rajasthan, Bharatpur district was the worst affected with 19 killed. Nine people died in Alwar and eight in Dholpur, officials said. Two of those killed in Dholpur were from Agra in Uttar Pradesh.
Power supply was cut off in many areas as the squall uprooted trees and snapped electricity cables. In Rajasthan alone, 13,000 electricty poles fell and about 100 transformers were damaged. Officials said power was being gradually restored.
In towns, the storm triggered traffic snarls. Some trains were delayed as overhead power cables broke.
In rural areas, there were reports of crop being damaged due to hailstorm. Farmers lost cattle and poultry. UP Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said 160 heads of cattle were lost. In Rajasthan, about 250 animals perished.
Most of the injured in Rajasthan have been discharged from hospitals.
Rajasthan's Disaster Management secretary Hemant Kumar Gera said some were undergoing primary treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the deaths and directed officials to coordinate with states to ensure speedy relief and rehabilitation.
THE CONGRESS on Thursday took a dig at UP CM Yogi Adityanath for campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka even when people of his state were reeling under the impact of the severe dust storm that has left many dead.
Ashok Gehlot cancels birthday celebrations
Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot turned 67 on Thursday, but he cancelled all celebrations at his residence in view of death of at least 22 and injuries to over 100 in Wednesday's dust storms and strong winds in Rajasthan. "We are extremely grieved at the loss of lives in state and stand with the victims in the hour of tragedy," he said in a statement.
Even while cancelling birthday celebrations, he said the organisers can continue th blood donation camps and janhit programmes.
Seventy people were killed in UP and 83 injured. In Rajasthan, 36 died and another 100 were injured. The worst period lasted about 45 minutes. With 43 deaths, Agra was the worst hit in UP. Bharatpur was the worst affected in Rajasthan.