Dust storms, heavy rain, lightning kill 96 in India

Dust storms, heavy rain, and lightning damaged homes and other structures and killed at least 96 people in northern India, officials said on Thursday.

The storms also injured more than 50 people as they swept across several districts late Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state.

Officials said some deaths were caused by falling trees, collapsing structures and lightning. Police and disaster response teams used chainsaws and cranes to clear fallen trees from roads and railway tracks in several districts.

Storms are common in northern India during the hot season from March to June, before the annual monsoon rains arrive.

Narendra N. Srivastava, an administrative official, said emergency teams were deployed across the affected areas and that homes, crops and power infrastructure were widely damaged, particularly in rural districts.

A floating platform jetty and changing rooms on the banks of the river Ganges are surrounded by floodwaters due to heavy monsoon rains in Prayagraj, India. Associated Press

In Prayagraj district, residents described panic as strong winds tore through neighborhoods.

"The storm came suddenly and the sky turned completely dark within minutes,” Ram Kishore said. "Tin roofs were flying and people ran indoors. We could hear trees falling throughout the evening.”

In neighboring Bhadohi district, Savitri Devi said her family narrowly escaped after strong winds damaged their mud house.

"We rushed outside when the walls started shaking because of the wind. Our roof collapsed moments later. We spent the night at a relative’s house," she said.

Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered officials to complete relief operations within 24 hours and directed authorities to provide compensation and emergency aid to affected families.

Associated Press