The death toll from freak storms that hit India climbed above 140 on Friday as people told how they had no time to escape fierce winds which tore down homes, walls and trees. The dust storms claimed 121 lives in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and nearby Uttarakhand and Punjab states, according to latest official tolls. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath cut short an election campaigning trip in Karnataka state to return to visit storm-hit areas where residents remain fearful. Storms and lightning strikes kill many people every year in India but this was one of the most severe series of storms in recent decades. Another 14 people were killed in Andhra Pradesh, which was hit by more than 41,000 lightning strikes late Tuesday.

Source: Dhaka Tribune May 04, 2018 13:18 UTC