Dust storm claims 20 lives in Rajasthan

Twenty people died while 60 others sustained severe injuries after a massive dust storm hit Rajasthan.

Dust storm played havoc since Tuesday evening, but actual loses were accessed on Wednesday following which the state government announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased. 

Panic gripped several parts of the state again after sudden change in weather on Wednesday evening.

According to official figures, maximum of six deaths have been reported in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. Electricity pole along with wires fell down on a house and all six were electrocuted. 

In Jaipur district, four people died when a portion of their house collapsed due to high speed winds.  In Bikaner, a four-year-old girl and an elderly person died after falling from the balcony of a house while in Sawaimadhopur two people died when a tin shed along with a concrete pillar fall on them. 

One death each has been reported from Nagaur, Bundi and Baran districts.  The storm generated over Bikaner region and advanced to other regions at the speed of 85 to 90 km per hour. Districts like Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Ganganagar and Churu also suffered heavy damage.

According to Met officials, the dust storm was the result of cyclonic circulation created over Rajasthan. 

South gets excess rainMeanwhile, summer rains this year has been a mixed bag with Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka receiving good rainfall while the clouds were not kind as they should in the case of Andhra Pradesh, even as the dog days are ahead in the coming season. Tamil Nadu and Kerala received excess rainfall of 85 per cent and 60 per cent respectively while Karnataka leads the table by getting 93 per cent excess downpour. 

In Tamil Nadu, 28 out of 32 districts received excess rainfall with Tirupur district leading the list by getting 150 per cent excess rainfall of 22 centimetres .

The Met office said that Karnataka was largely benefited by the un-seasonal rain this season with all its districts received excess rainfall. 

Of the total 23 districts, which received surpluss rainfall, Kalaburgi and Bidar region registered excess rainfall of 282 per cent and 272 per cent respectively.