9 Die in Rajasthan dust storm

Jaipur:  Nine people died after strong winds and a dust storm hit parts of Rajasthan on Tuesday afternoon. The storm has brought the temperature down by a few notches.

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje has announced a compensation of Rs. 4 lakh for the affected families.

The dust storm, which started at 3 pm, lasted for about an hour. It damaged many houses in Bikaner and Bharatpur, trees were uprooted and traffic and power supply were affected, police



said.

"The storm, with high velocity winds, was generated over Bikaner region and advanced to Jodhpur, Nagaur, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur and nearby areas," said an official of  the Indian Meteorological Department in Jaipur.

Bharatpur was the worst-affected area where five people have died. Two persons died in Dholpur and two in Bikaner.

Of the five people killed in Bharatpur, three died when walls collapsed on them.