LUCKNOW (Web Desk) -At least 96 people have been killed after powerful dust storms, lightning and heavy rainfall battered parts of northern India, causing widespread devastation across communities in Uttar Pradesh.
The extreme weather struck late Wednesday, leaving a trail of destruction in multiple districts, where homes collapsed, trees were uprooted and infrastructure was severely damaged.
Authorities said more than 50 people were injured, with casualties largely caused by falling debris, lightning strikes and structural failures during the intense storm system.
Emergency crews, including police and disaster response teams, were deployed to clear blocked roads and railway tracks, using heavy machinery to remove fallen trees and restore access in affected areas.
Officials reported significant damage to rural regions, where houses, crops and electricity networks were particularly vulnerable to the sudden and violent weather.
Residents in hard-hit areas described scenes of panic as strong winds and darkness engulfed neighborhoods within minutes, forcing families to flee their homes for safety.
Storm activity of this kind is common in northern India during the pre-monsoon period, which runs from March to June, often bringing sudden and destructive weather shifts.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered authorities to expedite relief operations and ensure compensation and emergency assistance for affected families within 24 hours.
