AMN /
Severe dust storm and thundershowers which lashed many parts of Uttar Pradesh cklaimed at least five lives and left over 50 injured. Rail, road and air traffic were thrown out of gear as people were caught unawares by the sudden change of weather which turned the sky dark during the day.
Highest 35mm rainfall was recorded in Etawah followed by Rae Bareli at 12.8mm and 9.9mm in Lucknow.
State Met director J P Gupta said a low pressure area over southwest UP and cyclonic circulation over Madhya Pradesh-UP border was responsible for the storm. Winds measuring up to 60km followed by rains lashed southwest, southeast and central parts of UP.
He said, there will be cloudy sky with possibility of thunder showers today as well. Road and air traffic, besides power supply, were hit badly. Six flights, including two international, arrived late at Lucknow airport.
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.