NEW DELHI – A massive rainstorm sweeping parts of north and western India, has left at least 72 people dead and over 100 injured besides causing house collapses, toppling trees and destructing other facilities.
According to Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar, the devastation is particularly severe in Agra, the city housing the Taj Mahal where 36 people died on Wednesday night with wind speed touching 130 kilometres (80 miles) per hour.
Other areas battered by the storm include Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
For Rajasthan, the Press Trust of India claimed that at least 27 had died and another 100 are injured in the western Indian state.
https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/991928303865999360
The storm hit western Uttar Pradesh after 6.30 pm and the local factors played a role in the impact.
“It was quite intense for Saharanpur, even though the damage there was relatively less than other areas,” Mr Kumar said. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officers to personally monitor the relief work and provide medical aid to affected, warning that no laxity will be tolerated on part of the officials.
Indian Premier Narendra Modi took to Twitter and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/991928132004278272
Though flash floods are common in South Asia, particularly in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Wednesday’s rainstorm caught people by surprise as the monsoon season is still more than six weeks away.
