dust-storm-kills-two-children-in-barmer

Two children were killed, and several others were injured after a strong dust storm accompanied by rain damaged houses and disrupted power supply in parts of Rajasthan's Barmer district, police said on Tuesday. The incident occurred late Monday night when high-velocity winds and rain lashed rural areas, uprooting trees, electricity poles, and tin sheds, officials said.

 

According to the police, in Sabri Nagar village under Bola gram panchayat, a wall of a tin-shed room collapsed during the storm, trapping eight-year-old Khagendra under the debris. Villagers pulled him out and rushed him to the district hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

 

In a separate incident in the same village, a four-year-old boy, Khumanaram, died after a wall of a kutcha house collapsed due to the storm, they said. The storm had a widespread impact in areas including Chohtan, Ramsar, Gadraroad, and border villages, where several trees and power poles were uprooted.

 

Electricity supply remained disrupted through the night in many rural pockets, while fallen trees and poles also blocked roads, affecting movement, police said.

 

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old folk artist was killed, and three others were injured after a wall of a resort collapsed during a strong dust storm in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district, police said on Tuesday. A wall of the resort collapsed due to strong winds late Monday night, hitting several performers at a resort in the Sam tourist area, about 45 km from the district headquarters, police said.

 

Swaroop Khan, 25, a folk artist and resident of Barisiyala village, died on the spot, police said, adding that three other artists, including one man and two women dancers, were injured in the incident.

 

The injured were initially taken to a local hospital and later referred to Jaisalmer. They were subsequently referred to Jodhpur for further treatment, police said.

 

Heritage Juma Resort owner Baroch Khan said around 40 tourists were present at the resort for an evening cultural programme when the incident occurred.

 

"The folk artists were performing on an open-air stage. There was a concrete wall behind the stage which collapsed during the storm," he said.