Dust and thunderstorm wreaked havoc in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and the national capital last week, killing at least 80 people and leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The Met department has warned of thunderstorms in north, north-east and parts of southern India for the next two days.
- Uttar Pradesh alone recorded 51 deaths
- Lightning, thunderstorm killed 9 in Andhra, 4 in West Bengal
- The number of flight diversions at Delhi’s IGI airport increased to 70
- Fresh thunderstorms likely to hit regions of J&K, Uttarakhand, UP and Himachal Pradesh in the next few hours
Thunderstorm Likely to Hit Delhi, UP Overnight
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday, 19 May, warned that a thunderstorm would hit the Delhi-NCR late tonight.
A dust storm or thunderstorm accompanied with squall and wind with speed of over 80 kmph would hit the Delhi-National Capital Region, the IMD said in a statement.
Squall and gusty winds are also "very likely" to hit some parts of western Uttar Pradesh overnight.
A MeT department said that thunderstorm accompanied by a squall and winds gusting up to 70 kmph are very likely to hit parts of Agra, Mathura, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Aligarh, Gautambudh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Etah, Badaun, Ghaziabad districts and adjoining areas till tomorrow morning.
80 Dead, 136 Injured in 5 States Due to Lightning, Thunderstorms
As many as 80 people were killed in five states due to thunderstorms and lightning strikes since 13 May, Sunday, with Uttar Pradesh alone recording 51 deaths, the Home Ministry said on Monday.
Meanwhile, six more deaths, including a girl aged under four, were reported today from the state of Bihar, parts of which were lashed by a thunderstorm that uprooted trees, electric poles and billboards.
The IMD again issued an advisory of a thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail with wind speed reaching 50-70 kilometers per hour being "very likely" at isolated places over Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Gangetic West Bengal on Tuesday.
Death Toll Due to Thunderstorm Rises to 71
As many as 71 people lost their lives in five states, including 42 in Uttar Pradesh, due to lightning and thunderstorms since Sunday, the Home Ministry said.
Among the dead, 42 were in Uttar Pradesh, 14 in West Bengal, 12 in Andhra Pradesh, two in Delhi and one in Uttarakhand, a ministry spokesperson said.
Altogether 83 people were injured in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Delhi and two in Uttarakhand.
A total of 24 districts in Uttar Pradesh, six in West Bengal, three in Andhra Pradesh, two in Delhi and one in Uttarakhand were hit by the lightning and thunderstorms.
NDMA Issues Advisory on Preparedness Before & After the Storm
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issues guidelines to be followed before the storm.
Guidelines to be followed after the storm.