Thunderstorm: People huddled to protect themselves from tree branches, flying debris
The India Meteorological Department has predicted
thunderstorms across north-west India over the next 48 to 72 hours, as several weather phenomena, including western disturbances, converge. The alert says that thunderstorm accompanied with squall (wind speed reaching 50-70 kmph) are very likely at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Heavy rain is also likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu and Kerala, it said.
At least 70 people were killed as severe storms, followed by rain and lightning swept north, east and south India on Sunday. The deaths were reported in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Met office has said thunderstorms are expected across north-west India over the next 48 to 72 hours, as several weather phenomena, including western disturbances, converge.
Here are the updates on the thunderstorm
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is taking stock of the situation in the state and has asked officials to give compensation to the families of those who died within 24 hours, Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said.
This morning, pictures showed a tree that had fallen on one of the vehicles of BJP MP and actor Hema Malini's convoy in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
Dust storms and thunderstorms had wreaked havoc yesterday in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and the national capital, leaving behind a trail of destruction. High-velocity winds uprooted trees and affected road, rail and air services last evening in several places in north India, including Delhi.
At least two people, including a woman, were killed and several injured in a dust storm that hit Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts in western Uttar Pradesh last evening, officials said.
At least 60 killed in storms across India
So far, 61 people have been killed in storm-related deaths across the country. Uttar Pradesh recorded the maximum deaths, 38. Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have reported nine deaths each, while Telangana recorded five deaths.
Several states in north India have witnessed erratic weather pattern over the fortnight. Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have alone witnessed over 120 deaths due to thunderstorm and violent winds in the first week of May.
Over 102 people have been killed in storm-related deaths in Uttar Pradesh. The most number of deaths (73) was reported on May 2. Yesterday, the state reported 18 deaths due to the storm, while the other 11 deaths were reported on May 9.
The Met office said the storm was a result of western disturbances over Jammu and Kashmir and cyclonic circulation over Haryana. An east-west trough from Haryana to Nagaland and easterly winds from Bay of Bengal are raising wind speed.
Uttar Pradesh saw the highest number of deaths at 18. Nearly 100 houses were gutted in a fire which broke out due to lightning in UP's Sambalpur.. At least eight people were killed in Andhra Pradesh, mostly in the Srikakulam district. Three farmers died in Telangana, officials said.
The Met office has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by light rains for a huge swathe of northern India over the next two to three days. An orange category warning -- which means the weather can significantly impact the lives of people -- has been issued for the hilly areas in the north, the northeast and Odisha.
The weather office said the wind speed was recorded between 50 and 70 km per hour.
A powerful dust storm and rain hit Delhi this evening, grounding flights, uprooting trees and bringing traffic on the city's roads to a grinding halt, days after an alert across north India for a massive storm.