At least 60 people were feared killed in fierce dust storms in northern Indian Uttar Pradesh, state and local officials said Thursday, adding the toll could go up further, according to dpa. Details of the damage caused by strong winds of up to 110 kilometres per hour that lashed several districts of the northern state on Wednesday were still being collected, officials in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow were quoted as saying by IANS news agency. The storms, accompanied by heavy rains, flattened houses, uprooted trees and electric poles and snapped communication links in several areas. The highest toll was reported from Kannauj district where 14 people died as a result of fires, walls collapsing and the uprooting of trees. Indian Meteorological Department officials said the stormy conditions were typical of the pre-monsoon period. The department forecast rain and thundershowers along with isolated thunder squalls in the region over the next five days.
