46 killed after violent dust storm, lightning wreak havoc in four states

A palm tree trunk fell on cars during dust storm in New Delhi, on Sunday. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: A violent dust storm accompanied by rains on Sunday hit Delhi and neighbouring regions resulting in both loss of lives and properties. The deadly winds grounded flights, uprooted trees and brought the traffic to a halt in several cities. Around 46 people in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and the national capital as gusty winds leave behind a trail of destruction. What happened on Sunday:

• 18 people, including five in Kasganj and two in Ghaziabad, died in Uttar Pradesh as violent dust storm wreaked havoc and disrupted life in the state. 28 others were injured.
• Three persons died and 18 others were injured in Delhi in deadly storm. A 56-year-old woman died after a branch of a tree fell on her in east Delhi's Pandav Nagar area. In another accident, a 19-year-old man died after several bricks fell on him in southeast Delhi's Jaitpur area.
• In West Bengal, at least 12 people, including four children, were killed and over 15 injured in lightning strike amid heavy rain. Five deaths were reported from Howrah district, while two deaths each from West Midnapore, North 24-Parganas and Nadia districts and one from Murshidabad district.
• In Andhra Pradesh, nine persons were killed in lightning strikes. While seven persons were killed in Srikakulam district alone, two more were killed in Kadapa
• As many as 189 trees were uprooted in the national capital during a squall and dust storm with a wind speed of up to 109 kmph that barrelled through Delhi and neighbouring areas: Police
• The Northern Railways said the train movement was disrupted on the section between the Hazrat Nizamuddin and Palwal stations due to tree felling.
• A few passenger and freight trains were held up for around 25 minutes because of the disruption. The Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express was also stopped near Sonepat due to uprooting of trees.
• The dust storm resulted in diversion of around 70 flights at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The operations of almost all the airlines -- domestic and international -- were affected as the runway had to be closed down and the flight services suspended for a while
• The storm crippled two major Delhi Metro lines and affected a third, stranding thousands and forcing the transporter to later run the trains on shorter routes. The disruptions took place because trees got toppled and hit and damaged overhead wires on the winding Blue Line and the equally busy Violet Line, the spokesman told IANS. The Magenta Line was also hit.

(With inputs from agencies)