Asia

Dust Storms in Northern India Leave at Least 97 Dead, 160 Injured (PHOTO)

A number of flights have been canceled in Indira Gandhi International Airport due to reduced visibility.
Sputnik

Heavy dust storms that swept across several parts of western and northern India on Wednesday have killed at least 97 people and injured more than a hundred and a half in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, while leaving a trail of destruction, uprooting trees and disrupting power supply in Punjab and Haryana.

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According to the Hindustan Times newspaper, the storm, which hit the northern states on Wednesday evening, killed 64 people in Uttar Pradesh, 31 others in neighboring Rajasthan, and at least two in Uttarakhand.

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In Uttar Pradesh, most deaths were reported in Agra district, while Alwar, Dholpur and Bharatpur districts were most affected in Rajasthan. The storm uprooted trees, destroyed houses, disrupted electricity, also resulting in snarled traffic.

The authorities of the two states announced compensations of up to 400,000 Indian rupees ($6,000) to the families of those deceased and 50,000 Indian rupees ($750) to those who were injured, the newspaper said.

 

"We can confirm at least 46 deaths, 41 injuries from around 40 of the state's 75 districts," T.P. Gupta of the Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner's office told AFP.

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The storm also hit the metropolitan area of New Delhi but incurred no casualties.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and pledged to ask the officials to assist those who had been affected.

According to weather forecasts, rains and thunderstorms will continue in northern India for at least two days.

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