Dust storms accompanied by heavy rain and lightning kill at least 96 people in northern India, officials say. The deaths occur as storms sweep across several districts in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, with more than 50 others reported injured. Reports say the storms late Wednesday damaged homes and other structures. Officials attribute some fatalities to hazards linked to the weather, including trees falling and structures collapsing, as well as lightning.
Emergency response teams clear debris and reopen affected areas. Police and disaster response workers use chainsaws and cranes to remove fallen trees from roads and railway tracks in multiple districts. The incident is framed as part of the region’s seasonal weather pattern: dust storms and thunderstorms are common in northern India from March to June, before the annual monsoon rains begin.
