Thunderstorms alert in 13 states, schools closed in Haryana: Top 10 updates

New Delhi : India is facing disastrous dust storms and thunderstorms witnessing loss and lives and property in states like UP, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Punjab.  At least 124 people killed and 300 injured and alert has been issued in Haryana. As such schools of Haryana will remain closed for 2 days.

Considering the warning note of the India Meteorological Department's (IMD's), the Haryana government on Sunday announced closure of all schools on Monday and Tuesday.

The Union home ministry said 13 states might be affected by thunderstorms, along with squall and hail on May 7. 

According to official report, 73 people were killed and 91 others injured in Uttar Pradesh. In Rajasthan, 35 people were killed and 206 injured. Eight people were killed in Telangana, six in Uttarakhand and two in Punjab; nearly 100 people were injured in these three states.

Take a look at the top 10 updates as per today's weather forecast by IMD 

1. The Haryana govt has announced that all schools will remain closed in the state on Monday and Tuesday.

2. Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Department has suggested safety tips to be adopted in case of thunderstorms, dust storms and squall.

3. At least 13 states and two Union Territories are likely to witness thunderstorms accompanied by squall, hail and heavy rains on Monday (today), the Home Ministry said.

Thunderstorm along with gusty winds are very likely to devastate isolated places in Uttarakhand and Punjab, while some places over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are likely to witness heavy rains, a Home Ministry official said quoting an Indian Meteorological Department advisory.

Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh.

Dust storm and thunderstorm are also likely at isolated places in West Rajasthan, the official said.

4. Temperatures dropped by three to five degrees during past 24 hours and Keylong recorded a low of 3.7 degrees Celsius while Kalpa and Manali recorded the minimum temperatures at 4.6 degrees Celsius and 6.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The MeT department warned of thunderstorm accompanied by squall and hailstorm in the mid and lower hills on May 7 and 8. 

5. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday requested Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh to extend all possible support to the farmers affected by the untimely Nor'wester in Odisha.

6. Seven persons were injured and about 200 houses were collapsed in a storm in Nadia district on Sunday, District Magistrate Sumit Gupta said

7. The thunderstorms that stuck Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, destroyed almost 30-40 of the standing mango crop in the main growing districts of Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Muzaffarnagar, Bareli, Rampur and Sitapur.

8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a payment of Rs 200,000 each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the family of who have lost their lives due to the dust storm in various parts of north India on May 2.

An official release said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also approved Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured due to the storm.

9. UP Government announces Rs 4,00,000 ex-gratia for the family of thunderstorm victims 

The chief minister said, "Relief has been provided to the affected. Kin of those who died have been given Rs 4,00,000 as ex-gratia and the injured are given free treatment in hospitals."

10. The Ministry of Home Affairs noted that 124 people were killed while more than 300 injured in five states due to thunderstorm and lightning.