At least 45 killed after storm hits Uttar Pradesh

At least 45 people were killed and 38 others injured after hailstorm, lightning and dust-storm hit several pockets of Uttar Pradesh on May 2, officials said on Thursday.

Agra reported the highest number of deaths: 36. Three persons died in Bijnore, two in Saharanpur and one each in Bareilly, Chitrakoot, Rae Bareli and Unnao districts.

It also reported the highest number of injured: 35. The remaining three were injured in Firozabad.

A total number of 156 animals also died due to the storm, 150 of them in Agra alone.

UP chief secretary Rajive Kumar has instructed Commissioner of Agra division that relief be distributed by evening and the injured be visited by senior officers at the hospitals, said UP Information Department principal secretary Awanish Awasthi.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed all District Magistrates to provide immediate relief to the affected.

“He said that the officials of the concerned districts calculate the losses and provide compensation to the affected urgently. There should not be any laxity in the relief work,” a government spokesperson said.

Rajasthan was also hit by a high-speed dust storm, which killed at least 22 people.