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© PTIWomen cover their faces during a dust storm in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. A similar dust storm lashed Ghazipur district killing 10 people.
New Delhi: At least 56 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar when severe duststorm, accompanied by rain and thundershowers, lashed some parts of the states on Wednesday evening, according to All India Radio.

In Uttar Pradesh, at least 30 people were killed in cyclonic storm that hit several districts of eastern UP. Eight people were killed in Siddhartha Nagar, seven in Jaunpur, five each in Varanasi, Bhadohi and Ambekarnagar.

According to AIR, high-velocity wind and scattered rain is still occurring at some places in Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Basti divisions.

Eight members of a marriage party were killed when a tree, uprooted by a fierce duststorm, fell on their jeep in Siddhartnagar district in Uttar Pradesh, PTI reported.

Rains, accompanied by high-velocity winds, lashed Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Bahraich and Sultanpur disrupting normal life.

The showers plummeted mercury providing respite to people from the searing heat in the state where Jhansi sizzled at 46 degrees Celsius.

Thunderstorm also claimed two lives, damaged several houses and uprooted trees at several places in Ghatampur, Kanpur. A boy identified as Golu was killed, when an uprooted tree fell on him. He died on the spot. A girl identified as Lalita died, when portion of a wall of her house collapsed and fell on her. Another woman was reportedly killed after being struck by lightening in Ghatampur.The hail caused damage to wheat and mango crops in Sitapur, Mirzapur, ghazipur, Balrampur, Gonda and Kaushambi.

However, storm also brought relief from hot and humid weather prevailing for last few days. JP Gupta, state meteorological director, said, "The upper air cyclonic circulation hovering over east UP got active on Wednesday due to heavy moisture incursion. This circulation was responsible for the sultry weather for the last four days. But heavy moisture feeding from the Bay of Bengal triggered dust and thunder storm. The moisture accumulated in the atmosphere converted into rains and hail. The circulation is expected to move from east to west UP in next few days. It will keep temperatures low by couple of degrees, but weather will remain humid. The skies will be clear by May 22".