Fifteen people have died and another 37 in thunder storms in and around the city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday 11 April 2018, which also caused damage to the historic Taj Mahal complex. Seven people died in the town of Sadar, five in Kirawali, two in Bah and one in Kheragarh. The precise causes of these fatalities have not been released at the time of writing, but the storm is known to have downed both trees and power lines, as well as having brought high winds, hail and numerous lighting strikes. At the Taj Mahal complex two minarets on separate gatehouses were brought down by high winds, though the main Taj Mahal building itself was unharmed.
People viewing damage to minarets in the Taj Mahal complex on 12 April 2018. AFP/Getty Images.
Thunder and dust storms are a common phenomena in arid regions, and are caused by
high winds lifting particles from the ground. These are common in Uttar
Pradesh in the summer season, a three month hot period lasting from
March to June, when temperatures can pass 45° but humidity remains low,
and high winds are particularly common ahead of the onset of the monsoon
season. This weeks events come only eight days after a series of dust storms claimed three lives in the state on 8 April.
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