At least 41 people were killed as storms and
lightning struck the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on the
weekend, officials said.
The storms on Saturday and Sunday, accompanied by high-speed winds
and rains, felled trees and electricity poles and brought down roofs
and temporary structures.
"While six people were killed on Saturday, 35 more died in such
incidents on Sunday," Mohammad Arif, an official at the state
disaster management control room in state capital Lucknow said by
phone.
Many of the victims were farmers and homeless people who were
outdoors, Arif said.
The deaths were caused by lightning, as well as the uprooting of
trees and collapse of houses in heavy rains and strong winds, he
added.
Close to a 100 mud-thatched homes collapsed in the inclement weather.
State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the loss of lives and
announced a compensation of 400,000 rupees each (5,800 dollars) to
the families of the victims.
Lightning strikes and storms are common in India during the monsoon
season that stretches between June and September.
More than 200 people have died in rain-related incidents in India in
July, a bulk of them in Assam and eastern Bihar state.
The deaths were caused by lightning, as well as the uprooting of trees and collapse of houses in heavy rains and strong winds. Picture: Representational