LUCKNOW: At least 17 persons have been reported dead in dust storm which hit western Uttar Pradesh on Friday evening and in all there is about 27 lives claimed till 12.00 in overall India.

Worth mention here In Muradabad the highest number of deaths (7) is recorded while Muzaffarnagar and Meerut reported two causalities each. Three persons killed in Sambhal and two deaths were reported from Badaun. Relief commissioner Sanjay Kumar asserted that all these deaths have been reported due to tree or house fall down incidents.

A tin shed collapsed in Amroha turned to be a reason of killing one person. According to TOI Kumar said that district magistrates have been asked to ensure that relief material are distributed within 24 hours and compensations are paid out to affected families at the earliest.

Nearly 150 persons have killed in the state due to thunder storms since May 1 this year. While some causality was reported due to lightning strikes, most deaths have occurred due to wall or tree fall down incidents.

On May 13, 39 people killed in different districts including Bareilly, Barabanki, Bulandshahr and Lakhimpur Khiri districts while On May 9, a severe storm claimed 18 lives and 27 others injured.

(With sources from PTI inputs)