Thunderstorm updates: High velocity dust storm wreak havoc in 4 states; claims over 50 lives across India

A high-velocity dust storm wreaked havoc on Sunday in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi-NCR, claiming over 50 lives and leaving behind a trail of destruction across north India.

At several places in north India including Delhi, high-velocity winds uprooted trees electricity polls and affected traffic, metro, rail and air services.

Uttar Pradesh bore the brunt of the hailstorm which left at least 39 people dead, while 12 people including four children were killed in West Bengal, nine in Andhra Pradesh, and two in Delhi.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took to micro-blogging site Twitter and expressed his grief over the same.

"Saddened by the loss of lives due to storms in some parts of the country. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," Modi tweeted.

Saddened by the loss of lives due to storms in some parts of the country. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. Asked officials to provide all possible assistance to those affected.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2018

Read | Thunderstorm updates: Massive dust storm hits Delhi-NCR; death toll rises to 53 in north India

Condoling the deaths, Congress President Rahul Gandhi in a tweet asked party workers to provide all assistance to the bereaved families.

My condolences to the families of those killed in the severe storms and lightning strikes across India, yesterday. Many have also been injured. I urge Congress Party workers to provide all possible assistance to the families of those killed and injured.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 14, 2018

The thunderstorms also lashed different parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Sunday.

The life-threatening dust storm with a wind speed of 109 km per hour claimed 3 lives in Delhi and threw the flight, rail and metro operations out of gear.

In West Bengal, at least 12 people, including four children, were killed and over 15 injured in lightning strike amid heavy rain, according to the state disaster management department.

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.

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While seven persons were killed in Srikakulam district alone, two more were killed in Kadapa. Two persons lost their lives in Bihar.

Various parts of the southern state witnessed rain, accompanied by gales.

Meanwhile, with a cool and partly cloudy morning in the national capital on Monday, the weatherman predicts light rain or drizzle in the afternoon session of the day. 

The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 37 degrees Celsius, according to officials.