The weather office issued a thunderstorm warning for West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and UP.
Highlights
- Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar warned of thunderstorms, winds
- UP and Rajasthan were among worst hit in storms this week
- Warnings issued for north and northeast states for tomorrow
Fresh warnings have been issued for strong thunderstorms and gusty winds across several states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the weather office said as the states brace for more high-speed winds that have killed 124 people this week.
Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have been one of the worst-hit states due to the freak storms that tore down homes and toppled walls, giving many victims no time to escape. Officials in Uttar Pradesh complained that the weather conditions had taken them by surprise as the weather office forecast did not indicate the intensity of the calamity.
On Friday, the Indian Meteorological Department said the thunderstorm accompanied by severe winds were likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Odisha, northwest Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema, north coastal Andhra Pradesh, interior Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The severe winds are expected to continue over the next few days but the number of affected states would decline.
In Rajasthan, where 35 people died and 209 were injured, officials said most of the deaths were due to lightening. The storm has also disrupted power supply due to damage to 12,000 electric poles and 2,500 transformers.
But it is Uttar Pradesh, particularly Agra, which bore the brunt of the ferocious storms. Officials say 73 people have died in Uttar Pradesh and 91 injured.
In Hyderabad and the outskirts, heavy downpour with hailstorm and strong gales uprooted trees in several areas in the city, damaging vehicles and bringing the traffic to a halt. Many parts of the Telangana capital have been without power since last night. Six people were killed in weather related incidents.in Telangana including 2 boys killed by lightening in Hyderabad...
For Saturday also, the home ministry issued an advisory saying thunderstorm accompanied with squall are very likely at isolated places in Uttarakhand, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sub Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.
Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely to occur at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and gangetic West Bengal.
Heavy rains are very likely at isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. Dust -storms are very likely at isolated places in Rajasthan, an official said.