Dust storm, lightning kill five in UP – epidemic of suicides reported, as climate unravels

April 2015 – UTTAR PRADESH, India – Five people including a woman were killed late Friday after a dust storm and lightning hit many parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Saturday. While two people died in Jaunpur after being struck by lightning, two others died in Pratapgarh and a woman lost her life in Azamgarh. Police said Afroz and Preeti were struck by lightning in Jaunpur and died later on way to a local medical facility.

Heavy rainfall and lightning in Pratapgarh killed two people while a woman, identified as Ramawati was killed in Kamharia village of Azamgarh when her mud house caved in due to the dust storm. Extensive damage to vegetable yield and wheat crop has also been reported. Hailstorm has been reported from Rasra in Ballia, leading to damage of crop and many vehicles. Extensive damage to vegetable yield and wheat crop has also been reported. Unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm in the past 40 days led to crop damage in the state, leaving the farmers devastated. Hundreds of farmers have committed suicide, while many died due to shock over losing the harvest. –Zee News