Fierce duststorms and heavy showers that lashed many parts of Uttar Pradesh, especially western districts, has left behind a trail of destruction besides leaving 89 people dead and scores of others injured.

A Home Department spokesman said that 89 deaths have been confirmed in incidents of fire, house collapse and lightening, following the high velocity winds and duststorms.

The duststorms triggered house collapses, uprooted trees and electric poles and snapped communication links in vast areas in the region.

A maximum of 14 deaths were reported from Kannauj followed by 10 each in Etawah and Firozabad and nine in Kanpur Dehat, the spokesman said.

Eight people were killed in Etah, seven in Mathura and six in Unnao, the spokesman said, adding Rs one lakh has been given to the relatives of the deceased as compensation.

Deaths have also been reported from Farrukhabad, Jalaun, Auraiya, Sitapur, Lakhimpur, Jhansi, Baghpat Mainpuri, Agra [Images], Fatehpur, Aligarh and Badaun, the spokesman said.

Several areas including Lucknow went without electricity for over three hours.