Dust storm claims 9 lives in Rajasthan, 2 dead in Patiala

Tribune News Service

Jaipur/Chandigarh/Patiala, May 2

A severe intensity dust storm followed by thunder showers on Wednesday evening claimed six lives in Bharatpur and three in Alwar district of Rajasthan.

More than two-dozen people were injured after a thatched house collapsed, power poles and trees were uprooted in the two districts as high-intensity squall struck the Matysya region comprising Bharatpur, Dholpur, Alwar and Dausa region, police said.

A detailed report of mishaps is awaited even as teams were pressed into service to rescue trapped people from damage houses. The injured have been admitted to government hospitals.

The harvested rabi crop was also reportedly damaged.

In Punjab's Patiala, two construction labourers were killed after a wall collapsed as a dust storm accompanied by rain hit the region.

Three persons were injured after a tree fell on a parking stand at Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala.

The bodies of labourers were taken to Rajindra Hospital for post-mortem.

The dust storm hit the city, Mohali, Panchkula and Patiala around 2 pm, throwing traffic out of gear.

It grew dark in the afternoon as thunderstorm lashed several parts of Punjab, including Zirakpur, Patiala, Muktsar, Rajpura and Ludhiana. 

There were reports of trees being uprooted on several roads even as vehicles moved at snail's pace. 

Rain lashed Shimla and adjoining areas. Meanwhile, Haryana's Karnal witnessed thunderstorm.