Deadly dust storms have swept across northern India – killing 77 and injuring 143 others.
The overnight storm ravaged the territories of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan – with the death toll only expected to rise further, according to officials.
Most of the victims were hit by falling walls and trees as powerful winds tore down buildings in hundreds of towns and villages.
Many people were sleeping as intense bursts of lightning destroyed their houses overnight as they became trapped inside.
Relief workers are now battling to clear debris in affected areas and provide urgent medical care to those injured in the storms.
Commuters struggled to deal with the smog being forced to cover their eyes and mouths so as not to inhale the dust
A an is lifted from the rubble of his own home after the storm destroyed the house in Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Enormous lightning strikes set fire to houses and destroyed them completely as people slept
The winds were so powerful that even solid brick walls fell victim to the storm as houses across the north of the country crumbled
The dust storms tore through several northern Indian towns, smashing down structures with powerful winds
Among the worst affected areas were the northern states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
Hemant Gera, secretary for disaster management and relief in Rajasthan, told the BBC the storms were ‘the worst he’d seen for 20 years’.
‘We had a high intensity dust storm on 11 April – 19 people died then – but this time it struck during the night so many people sleeping and couldn’t get out of their houses when mud walls collapsed,’ Mr Gora said.
The state government has announced that families of the dead will receive 400,000 rupees (about $6,000; £4,400) as compensation.
200,000 rupees (about $3,000 or £2,200) will also be given to those who were seriously injured in the catastrophe.
‘We can confirm at least 46 deaths, 41 injuries from around 40 of the state’s 75 districts,’ T.P. Gupta of the Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner’s office told AFP.
The Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, home to the Taj Mahal monument, was one of the worst hit, according to media reports.
There were 46 confirmed deaths in Uttar Pradesh in the north and 31 in Rajasthan to the west.
The local government in Uttar Pradesh government has reportedly sounded an alert for the next 48 hours.
Falling telephone wires caused total power outages in many regions as relief workers battled to restore the electricity supply
Torrential rain followed the dust storm and made accessing the affected areas even more difficult for emergency services
The storm also hit the capital Delhi, more than 100km (62 miles) away, along with heavy rains late on Wednesday evening.
A dramatic video, posted on Twitter, showed a thick layer of dust blanketing the Delhi skyline – miles away from the centre of the storm.
Tweeting condolence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had directed central officials to coordinate with respective state governments for relief work.
‘Saddened by the loss of lives due to dust storms in various parts of India. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,’ he tweeted.
‘Have asked officials to coordinate with the respective state governments and work towards assisting those who have been affected.’
The government said there were still storm warnings out in several Indian territories for the next 48 hours
Traffic in Delhi was brought to a standstill as first dust then rain played havoc with transport systems
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government would be coordinating with local authorities to provide relief