Lightning and thunderstorm create havoc rising the death toll across the country

NewsBharati    14-May-2018
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New Delhi, May 14: Long lasting thunderstorm and dust winds wreaked havoc in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and New Delhi, killing at least 41 people and leaving behind a trail of destruction.

 

A squall and dust storm with a wind speed of up to 109 kmph battered Delhi and neighbouring areas killing two persons and injuring 19 others. It has been estimated that 18 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh, 12 in West Bengal, nine in Andhra Pradesh, and two in Delhi. At several places in north India including Delhi, high-velocity winds uprooted trees and affected road, rail and air services.

According to the India Meteorological Department, thunderstorms also occurred at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtara, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu today.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Saddened by the loss of lives due to storms in some parts of the country. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured."

 

State government has asked the district authorities to take immediate steps to save people and prevent damage to property and also issued orders to provide financial assistance to the affected families. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked the in charge Ministers of different districts to visit the affected areas and monitor relief operations being conducted.

In West Bengal, at least 12 people, including four children, were killed and over 15 injured in lightning amid heavy rain. District authorities have advised the people to stay inside and take shelter under puckka construction and stay away from trees, transformers and electricity polls. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued warning for several districts in eastern UP for the next 24 hours.
Most parts of the state are affected. Power supply and communication networks are badly hit. In several district powers supply was disrupted for several hours in urban areas and in rural areas it is still disrupted. As per reports available 40 houses have been damaged and 15 cattle heads perished. Incidents of fire are also reported from different district due to lightning.
Hailstorm has hit several districts including Banda, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Shamali, Hapur, Bareilly and Baghpat. The State government has asked the district authorities to take precautions to save people and property losses and provide financial assistance to the affected families.

Indian Meteorological Department Lightning thunderstorm death