Fresh storms and lightning strikes have claimed at least 30 lives across northern and eastern India, officials and news reports said Saturday.

The latest of the pre-monsoon storms struck the northern state of Uttar Pradesh late Friday with wind speeds up to 100 kilometres per hour.

The storm felled trees and electricity poles, and brought down roofs and temporary structures, killing 18 people and injuring 12 more, Achal Srivastava, an official manning the state disaster control room, said by phone.

Domestic media reported four deaths due to the storm in neighbouring Uttarakhand and one each in Punjab state as well as New Delhi, also in the north.

Most of the deaths were caused by collapsing houses and falling trees.

Six more people were killed in lightning strikes in the eastern state of West Bengal on Friday, the IANS news agency reported.

Summer dust storms accompanied by strong winds are common in India ahead of the rainy monsoon season.

Over 200 people died since May as powerful storms ravaged several states, including Uttar Pradesh, which accounted for most of the deaths.

The weather bureau has forecast more storms in India in the coming days.

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