3 killed, several hurt as storm batters Agra region

Agra: At least three people died and several others were injured after a powerful dust storm accompanied by heavy rain battered Agra and adjoining districts on Friday night, uprooting trees, damaging homes and disrupting power supply across the region. Officials said restoration teams worked through the night, while the administration urged residents not to take shelter near weak structures and large trees during adverse weather.

In Agra, an unidentified rickshaw puller died after a massive tree crashed onto a boundary wall near Namner crossing under Rakabganj police station limits, causing the structure to collapse. Police said the rickshaw puller and another man had taken shelter near the wall to escape the storm when it gave way, trapping both under debris. “Residents and police pulled them out and rushed them to hospital, where doctors declared the rickshaw puller dead on arrival,” Rakabganj SHO Yogesh Kumar said.

Kumar said the injured man was identified as Aziz alias Mirza of Malpura area and was undergoing treatment. In another incident in Agra’s Idhaun village under Fatehabad area, a neem tree fell on a house during the storm, injuring five members of a family. “Neeraj, Rajkumari, Kajal, Usha Devi and Arjun were trapped under debris. Villagers and police personnel rescued them and shifted them to Fatehabad community health centre,” an official said.

In Mathura, two people died as strong winds and rain hit the district. In Gausna village under Jamuna Par police station limits, Om Prakash, 55, a labourer, was killed after a tin shed blown off a neighbouring house struck him while he was sleeping on the roof of his home. “He died on the spot,” a police official said. In another incident, a 17-year-old girl died under Maant police station limits.

The storm uprooted several trees, damaged property and hit power infrastructure across the region, leaving many areas without electricity for hours. “Teams are assessing losses and restoring supply in affected areas,” an official said, adding that reports from several pockets were still being compiled.