2 killed, 18 injured in dust storm in Delhi

Two persons died and 18 others were injured in Delhi when a squall and powerful dust storm barrelled through the national capital today, police said.

A 56-year-old woman died after a branch of a tree fell on her in east Delhi's Pandav Nagar area, they said.

Police said Somvati Sinha was out for an evening walk when the mishap happened. She had suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared her brought dead. During the walk, Sinha was accompanied by her neighbours, who miraculously escaped, police said.

In another accident, a 19-year-old man died after several bricks fell on him in southeast Delhi's Jaitpur area. Rohit was injured and admitted to Apollo Hospital, where he died, police said.

The dust storm with a wind speed reaching 109 kmph fell nearly 190 trees in Delhi. The Police Control Room received 260 calls about incidents related to the storm till 7.30pm, police said.

Four incidents of wall collapse were reported in Delhi from Najafgarh, Transit Camp, Nehru Place, Mohan Garden in Uttam Nagar and Raj Nagar in Palam, Delhi Fire Service said.

Two fire-tenders each were rushed to the areas.