Web Desk(May 03, 2018): Powerful dust storms hit across northern India killing at least 100 people and injuring more than 140, warnings were already made on Thursday of more chaos to come.
Winds of more than 130 kilometres (80 miles) per hour ravaged Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab states and the death toll was expected to rise, officials said.
The dust storms brought down feeble mud houses, people have died while sleeping.
Walls, trees, and electricity pylons were all torn down by the winds which were followed by fierce lightning storms.
Similar storms kill hundreds of people each year in India, but these were some of the most severe in recent decades.
More Expected
There were 65 confirmed deaths in Uttar Pradesh in the north, 33 in the desert state of Rajasthan to the west, and two in Punjab.
Agra district of Uttar Pradesh was one of the worst hit with more than 40 people killed. The Taj Mahal is in Agra city but officials said the monument escaped damage.
Last month, a similar storm killed at least 15 people in Uttar Pradesh and destroyed two minarets over an entry house to the Taj Mahal.
Most of the victims were killed while sleeping by houses that collapsed or by falling walls, trees, and electric pylons as many people in India sleep outside during the summer months to escape the high temperatures.
Hemant Gera, head of Rajasthan’s Disaster Management and Relief Department said emergency services are on alert and that people should not sleep outdoors.
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