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Dust Storms and Lightning Kill at Least 96 in Northern India
Dust storms, heavy rain, hail and lightning struck several districts in Uttar Pradesh late Wednesday, killing at least 96 people and injuring more than 50. Falling trees, collapsing homes and lightning caused most of the deaths. Officials ordered rapid relief operations and compensation for affected families as rescue teams cleared roads and railway tracks.
May 14, 5:44 AM·2m read3 sources
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Dust storms, heavy rain, hail and lightning swept through several districts of Uttar Pradesh late Wednesday, killing at least 96 people and injuring more than 50 others, officials said Thursday. Most deaths resulted from falling trees, collapsing walls of homes and direct lightning strikes.
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Police and disaster response teams worked through the night using chainsaws and cranes to clear fallen trees from roads and railway tracks.
Mobile phone networks were disrupted across affected areas, slowing initial damage assessments. The storms damaged homes, crops and power infrastructure, particularly in rural parts of the state. In Prayagraj district, strong winds tore through neighborhoods, ripping off tin roofs and toppling trees.
Residents described sudden darkness and widespread panic as the storm struck without warning.
“The storm came suddenly and the sky turned completely dark within minutes. Tin roofs were flying and people ran indoors. We could hear trees falling throughout the evening.”
In Bhadohi district, which saw the highest toll with at least 16 deaths, a family escaped injury when the walls of their mud house began shaking violently and the roof collapsed moments later. They spent the night at a relative’s home. Similar incidents of wall collapses killed at least two people in Chandauli district.
Specific fatalities included two young girls, aged 10 and 9, who died when the mud wall of a hut they had taken shelter in gave way. Two women inside with them were seriously injured. In another village, a 40-year-old woman died after a tree fell on a tubewell room where several people had sought cover, causing the roof to collapse.
