110 now dead with many more injured after fierce dust storms hit northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Massive storm lasted only 15 minutes but kills 45 people with many more injured livestock and crops in Uttar Pradesh India

the Big Wobble,

3May, 2018

More than 45 people were killed, 36 in Agra Zone alone, and dozens injured in a massive thunder and hailstorm that hit Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday-Thursday night.

The toll may cross over to 50.

Nature's fury took maximum lives in the Agra zone when winds at the speed of 132 km/hour lashed the entire region leaving 36 dead and many injured.

About 18 people were killed in Khairabad, 9 in Fatehabad, 4 in Bah, 2 each in Etmadpur and Kirwali area in Agra.

Storm-related deaths were reported from Saharanpur, Moradabad, Sambhal, Muzaffarnagar etc where people died in House/tree collapse.

The weather suddenly took a devastating turn at 2.30 am on Thursday morning when people were fast asleep.

Majority of the people died in house/wall/tree collapse.

At many places, the thunderstorm was followed by hailstorm severely damaging standing wheat crop and killing cattle.

The massive storm lasted only for 15 minutes.

The devastation in terms of loss of human life, damage to crop and livestock would have been much higher had the storm lasted for more time.

"The rescue and relief operations are in full swing.

We are assessing losses.

The toll may cross over 50 as teams are yet to reach interior areas," Sanjay Kumar, Relief Commissioner, told the media.

The local police have also been involved in the relief and rescue operations.

Before leaving for Karnataka, the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled those died in the thunderstorm and directed the disaster management officials to provide immediate relief and compensation to the families in the affected areas.

"The government will not tolerate any laxity in relief and rescue work," warned the CM.

The high-velocity winds affected the rail and road traffic.

The power supply in many of the areas remained disrupted affecting mobile and net services.

Dozens of trains across the state came to a sudden halt when the power line went off and many trees fell on the track.

In Chitrakoot, a tree fell on the running train damaging engine.

However, no casualty was reported.
At least 27 people were killed and nearly 100 injured as a high-intensity squall
At least 27 people were killed and nearly 100 injured as a high-intensity squall followed by thundershowers hit parts of Rajasthan overnight, leaving a trail of destruction.

Houses collapsed and electricity poles and trees were uprooted as the severe dust storm swept the Matsya region.

"So far, 27 people have died due to the disaster, including 12 in Bharatpur, 10 in Dholpur and 5 in Alwar.

The squall was reported mainly in three districts," Secretary, Disaster Management and Relief, Hemant Kumar Gera told PTI. Two of those killed in Dholpur were from Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

He said nearly 100 were injured in the disaster.
Increase in lightning strikes due to climate change

Lightning strikes are on a 12 to 24% increase: Phenomenon appears to be worsening with climate change

Lightning strikes are expected to increase by 12 percent for every degree Celsius of warming

A 50 percent rise in lightning expected by the end of the century.

Reports last year in America of "Strange lightning storms!" Lightning from a cloudless sky! "Strange lightning storms" causing widespread bushfires in the US and Canada

Hundred's of people died last year due to lightning strikes in India full story here 

INDIAN STORM UPDATE: 110 now dead with many more injured after fierce dust storms hit northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Hail and rain storms knocked down power poles and uprooted trees, killing at least 110 with many more injured in northern and western India, government officials said on Thursday.

At least 110 people have been killed and scores more injured in fierce dust storms that hit the northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

According to the BBC, the storms on Thursday disrupted electricity, uprooted trees, destroyed houses and killed livestock.

Many of the dead were sleeping when their houses collapsed after being struck by intense bursts of lightning.

Dust storms are common in this part of India during summer but a loss of life on this scale is unusual.

At least 73 people died in Uttar Pradesh - more than half of them of them in Agra district, which is home to the Taj Mahal monument.