At Least 116 Killed As Storms Batter India

Lightning strikes and powerful dust storms across India have killed at least 116 people and injured more than 250 as meteorologists warned Thursday of more wild weather on the horizon

Agra, India(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) :Lightning strikes and powerful dust storms across India have killed at least 116 people and injured more than 250 as meteorologists warned Thursday of more wild weather on the horizon.

Dust clouds plunged swathes of north India into darkness as winds of more than 130 kilometres per hour (80 miles per hour) brought down feeble mud houses and killed people where they slept. Walls, trees and electricity pylons were torn down in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab states where officials said the death toll was expected to rise.

The destructive winds were followed by fierce lightning storms and rains. Similar storms kill hundreds of people each year in India but these were some of the most severe in recent decades. Shivam Lohia, who owns a resort hotel in Alwar district of Rajasthan, said he abandoned his car on the road and ran for his life after it was almost blown away.

"I haven't seen such a devastating storm in at least 25 years. Everyone was scared and running for cover as trees and homes were getting blown away. It was a nightmare," Lohia told AFP.