More than 60 people lost their lives because of rain and thunderstorm caused by a western disturbance on April 16 and 17. The highest number of casualties was registered from Rajasthan which was 25, 21 were killed in Madhya Pradesh, 10 in Gujarat, and three in Maharashtra since Monday, reported The Times Of India.
Most of the deaths were caused due to lighting strikes, electrocution and tree fall. Apart from claiming human lives, the thunderstorm flanked with hail storms, and strong winds also damaged crops in parts of Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that heavy rainfall along with gusty wind was recorded in parts of Chittorgarh, Ajmer, Pilani, Kota, Srinagar in Rajasthan. In Gujarat, Rajkot, Banaskantha, Mehsana, Sabarkantha and Anand were severely affected. Several crops from these districts were damaged due to the storm. A western disturbance and winds with moisture from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal were causing this kind of weather conditions. BP Yadav, head of IMD’s regional meteorological center in New Delhi said that the interaction between disturbance and winds with moisture from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal caused widespread lighting events. Yadav further said that the weather will start getting drier, except in east India as the worst of the storm has passed away.
Central and State govt announce compensation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the loss of lives in Gujarat and announced a relief fund for the kin of those who lost their lives. Soon after this, Kamal Nath, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh pointed out that the PM is only concerned about his state. Later on, the official Prime Minister of India (PMO) Twitter handle, tweeted out saying that Narendra Modi has expressed grief at the loss of lives in Rajasthan, MP, Manipur and other parts of the country.
PM @narendramodi has expressed grief at the loss of lives due to unseasonal rains and storms in MP, Rajasthan, Manipur & various parts of the country. The government is doing its best to provide all possible assistance to those affected. The situation is being monitored closely.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 17, 2019
PMO Twitter later announced that a relief fund of Rs 2 lakh will be given to the kin of those who lost their lives due to unseasonal rain & storms in these states and also Rs 50,000 will be dispersed to the injured.
An ex- gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to unseasonal rain & storms in MP, Rajasthan, Manipur & various parts of the country has been approved from the PM’s National Relief Fund. Rs 50,000 each for the injured has also been approved.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 17, 2019
Apart from these, the state government separately announced ex-gratia. The Rajasthan and MP government said that they will provide a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to bereaved families, whereas Gujarat announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh.
