NEW DELHI: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Friday approved ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of those killed in the thunderstorm that hit various north Indian states, particularly
Uttar Pradesh and
Rajasthan, on May 2.
Modi also cleared Rs 50,000 each for the seriously injured. As many as 124 people lost their lives due to thunderstorm and lightning in five states earlier this week, the home ministry said quoting figures reported by the affected states. The highest number of casualties were in UP, where 73 people were killed and 91 injured. In Rajasthan, 35 people were killed and 209 injured, and 12,000 electric poles were uprooted and 2,500 transformers were damaged in the storm.
While six were killed in Uttarakhand, two lives were lost in
Punjab. Another eight persons died under similar conditions in Telangana. A fresh warning was issued on Friday about possible thunderstorm accompanied with squall or gusty winds for the next 3-4 days, the meteorological department said.
On May 6 and 7, thunderstorm accompanied by squall and hail is likely in parts of J&K, HP and Uttarakhand. Thunderstorm and squall is also forecast in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, western UP, Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Eastern UP may witness thunderstorm with gusty winds on May 6. Dust storms are very likely in isolated places in UP and Rajasthan.
File photo