Freak weather storm kills five in Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi: In Uttar Pradesh, severe dust storms and thundershowers which lashed many parts of the state on Tuesday, killed five persons and left over 50 injured.

Rail, road and air traffic were thrown out of gear as people were caught unaware by the sudden change of weather which turned the sky dark during the day.

Highest 35 mm rainfall was recorded in Etawah followed by Rae Bareli at 12.8 mm and 9.9 mm in Lucknow.

Winds measuring up to 60 km followed by rains lashed southwest, southeast and central parts of the state.

Traffic jams caused by uprooted trees on highways were also reported from many parts of the state.

Lightning claimed two lives each in Bulandshahr and Auraiya, while a boy was killed in Lakhimpur in a wall collapse.

But on the other side, the showers have brought down temperature several degrees below giving much relief from sultry weather which lasted till November.