More than 40 people have been killed and several others injured in different parts of Uttar Pradesh as dust storm, accompanied by high velocity wind and rains, hit several districts of Uttar Pradesh, officials said in Lucknow.

Eleven people, including four children, were killed in Lakhimpur district in incidents of house collapse and uprooting of trees during dust storm Saturday morning, Additional District Magistrate Tulsi Ram said.

He said while four persons each were killed in Lakhimpur and Gola tehsil, two deaths were reported from Mohammadi and one from Dharaura.

In Shahjahanpur district, 16 people were killed in dust storm related incidents, ADM Rama Shanker Maurya said.

He said 11 people were killed in Tilhar teshil, three in Puwayan and two in Sadar tehsil.

The ADM said financial assistance of Rs one lakh each would be given to the next of kin of those killed.

A stationary coach of a passenger train got derailed at Shahjahanpur railway station after being dragged on the track for several metres by high velocity wind, sources said.

Police said eight persons were killed due to uprooting of trees and house collapse in Badaun district.

In Simbhawali area in Ghaziabad district three members of a family were killed when a high tension wire fell on them during the duststorm, they said.

Rains bring respite to Delhiites from scorching heat

In the national capital, strong wind and rains on Saturday made the weather pleasant, bringing much needed respite to the Delhiites from scorching heat.

Black clouds covered morning sun and it started raining at around 8:30 am in most parts of the city.

Cyclonic circulation over Punjab and its neighbourhood resulted precipitation in the capital and it is likely to continue for the day, weathermen said.

The city has been witnessing above 40 degrees Celsius for the past few some days and the mercury had shot up to the season’s highest of 44.1 deg C on May 17.

On Friday the city registered a high of 40 deg C.

The city recorded minimum temperature of 26.1, a degree lower than Friday’s 27.1 deg C, which was two notches above normal.

Rains in parts of Punjab, Haryana

Mercury dropped by few notches as rains lashed parts of Punjab and Haryana on Saturday.

Heavy showers (13.9 mm) lashed Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, in the wee hours.

Ambala, Gurgaon, Sonepat, Panchkula and Panipat in Haryana also received heavy showers.

Patiala, Mohali, Phagwara and Nawanshahr in Punjab also witnessed downpours.

After the rains, cool breeze made the weather pleasant in many places.