Over 100 people were killed and around 180 injured after a high-velocity dust storm followed by thunder showers wreaked havoc in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Wednesday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Trees and electricity poles were uprooted and mud houses collapsed in the high-intensity squall, officials said on Thursday.
Expressing sorrow at the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday directed officials to coordinate with the States to ensure speedy relief and rehabilitation of those affected.
“Saddened by the loss of lives due to dust storms in various parts of India. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted quoting Mr. Modi.
In Uttar Pradesh, at least 70 people were killed and 83 injured, with Agra accounting for the maximum casualties — 43. Three persons each died in Bijnore and Kanpur Dehat, and two each in Saharanpur, Hamirpur, Kanpur Nagar and Mirzapur districts.
One casualty each was reported from Bareilly, Pilibhit, Chitrakoot, Raebareli, Unnao, Mathura, Amroha, Kannauj, Banda, Kanpur, Sitapur, Sambhal, Etawah, Allahabad and Rampur.
In Rajasthan, 16 people died in Bharatpur district, 10 in Dholpur and five in Alwar, while over 100 were injured in the storm that hit the region around 7 p.m.
The worst period lasted about 45 minutes, according to reports from Dholpur, but the extent of the damage was known only in the morning.
Another storm coming
The Meteorological Department has issued warnings that another dust storm may hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the next 48 hours due to the cyclonic circulation formation in the region.
DMs on high alert
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued an advisory ordering all district magistrates to be on high alert. He has asked the district officials to calculate the losses and provide compensation to those affected urgently, a government spokesperson said.
State Chief Secretary Rajive Kumar has instructed the Commissioner of Agra division to ensure that relief is distributed in the affected areas by Thursday evening and senior officials visit the injured in hospitals, said U.P. Information Department principal secretary Awanish Awasthi. Power supply was cut off in many areas as the squall uprooted trees and snapped electricity cables. Officials said it was being gradually restored.
Rajasthan declares natural disaster
In towns, the storm triggered traffic snarls and in rural areas there were reports of crops being damaged due to hailstorm. Farmers lost cattle and poultry. U.P. Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said 160 head of cattle were lost.
Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria, who also holds the Disaster Management and Relief portfolio, said the storm has been included in the category of natural disasters for the first time in the State and funds to the tune of ₹2.55 crore have been sanctioned to the affected districts.
Financial assistance
The next of kin of each deceased in Rajasthan will get financial assistance of ₹4 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje expressed grief over the calamity and directed the Ministers and officers concerned to begin the relief work immediately and restore utilities.
Power discoms have launched action on a war-footing to restore electricity supply in the affected areas, while the administration has ordered a survey of damaged properties.
Major destruction was reported from Alwar district, where trees fell and power cables snapped, plunging a number of areas into darkness. In Dholpur district, relief camps have been opened for the villagers whose houses were destroyed.
