A heavy dust storm swept across several parts of western and northern India on Wednesday, killing at least 73 people and injuring hundreds in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand and leaving a trail of destruction, uprooting trees and disrupting power supply in Punjab and Haryana as well, reports Hindustan Times.

At least 42 people were killed in four districts of western Uttar Pradesh. thirty six people were killed in Agra, three in Bijnore, two in Saharanpur and one in Bareilly, state government officials said.

Bharatpur suffered the maximum damage in Rajasthan in terms of loss to life as 16 people were killed in the district. Nine people died in neighbouring Dholpur in the high-speed dust storm that started around 7:00pm and wreaked havoc for two hours.

Four deaths were reported from Alwar and one each from Jhunjhunu and Bikaner.

Most deaths occurred in house collapse due to the storm, officials in Rajasthan said.

Uttarakhand Disaster Mitigation & Management Centre (DMMC) said at least two people were killed in Kumaon and few more injured in other parts after rains and thunderstorm lashed the hill state on Wednesday night.

A squall and dust storm followed by heavy rain also lashed New Delhi on Wednesday evening and caused traffic snarls in some parts of the national capital.

Normal life was also hit in many places in Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh, on Wednesday after a high-velocity dust storm. Light to moderate rains also lashed many places.

At least 42 people were killed and dozens of others injured in thunderstorm and rains in four districts of western Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday night.

The state government officials said 36 people were killed in Agra, three in Bijnore, two in Saharanpur and one in Bareilly. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath directed the district magistrates of the four districts to carry out relief and rescue operations immediately.

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje expressed condolence the deaths and said in a series of tweets that she has directed ministers and officials in the affected areas to begin relief work and restore utilities.

The storm left a trail of destruction and uprooted hundreds of trees and electricity poles.

Bharatpur divisional commissioner Subir Kumar said a compensation of Rs 50,000 will be given to families of those killed in the dust storm from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

The storm also caused major destruction in Alwar where more than 100 trees were uprooted, many of which fell on stationary vehicles and snapped electricity cables. The power distribution company switched off electricity to prevent further damage.

Alwar’s collector Rajan Vishal confirmed three deaths in the district and said Rakesh Sharma and Mukesh Mahajan were killed in Alwar city and Bhagwani in Bansur.

‘Twenty injured have been admitted to the trauma ward in the government hospital in Alwar,’ he said.

The collector said a survey of the damaged property has also been ordered as thunderstorm is in the list of national calamities. Private schools in Alwar city are closed on Thursday.