Toll in Uttar Pradesh storm rises

By Ram Dutt Tripathi
BBC News, Lucknow

The storm also caused havoc in Delhi Pic: Milton Nkosi

The number of people killed in a storm in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday has risen to 94, the state's relief commissioner says.

GK Tandan told the BBC that most deaths were caused by the uprooting of trees, phone and electricity wires as well as fires and collapsing houses.

Medical help and emergency food is being organised.

Some parts of Uttar Pradesh are still cut off. Agriculture was hit badly by the storm.

The storm started from the western state of Rajasthan and hit the national capital, Delhi, as well as Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state.

Some flights had to be diverted from Delhi.

At least 10 people in Uttar Pradesh were seriously injured. Some reports say the death toll could be much higher than the official figure of 94.

The storm has almost destroyed the mango crop in Uttar Pradesh. Many animals were killed.