Adityanath tours storm-affected Agra

Faced with criticism for being away at an election campaign in Karnataka when 73 persons were killed in the State due to high-intensity storm, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday toured the worst affected district of Agra.

After an aerial survey of the areas hit by the storm, Mr. Adityanath met families of the victims and distributed relief cheques. The death toll in Agra stood at 43, with 51 others injured as hail and dust storms and severe lightning lashed the region.

Mr. Adityanath, cut short his campaign in Karnataka and rushed to Agra on Friday night and started his tour of the district early on Saturday.

Assuring all help to the affected, Mr. Adityanath told reporters, “I have full sympathy towards those who lost their loved ones. I assure all victims that our government stands with them in this period of grief and crisis.”

The CM said his government had handed out relief to 98% of the victims within 24 hours. He instructed officials to also stall revenue collection and power bills in the affected areas to bring relief to farmers and residents.

Mr. Adityanath’s decision to rush back to U.P.followed severe criticism by Opposition parties who said he preferred to campaign for the Karnataka Assembly election at a time of a calamity in his State.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said people were shocked, wondering if the CM's priority was U.P. or Karnataka.

“People have elected him for dealing with the problems of U.P., not to do politics in Karnataka. If he does not come back even under such conditions, it is better he establishes a mutt in Karnataka and stays put there,” Mr. Yadav said.