A deadly storm swooped in on northern India after wrecking havoc on neighbouring nations Afghanistan and Pakistan with winds of up to 70 miles per hour and violent thunderstorms. Up to 16 registered deaths were reported in Madhya Pradesh, followed by a further 10 in Gujarat and six in Rajasthan, according to the Indian Express. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of his deep anguish in a heartfelt statement.

He said in a tweet: “My thoughts are with the bereaved families. Authorities are monitoring the situation very closely. All possible assistance is being given to those affected.”

He also said parts of the country have been approved for a national relief fund of 50,000 Indian rupees each.

He added: “An ex- gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to unseasonal rain & storms in MP, Rajasthan, Manipur & various parts of the country has been approved from the PM’s National Relief Fund. Rs 50,000 each for the injured has also been approved.”

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that 10 people were killed in Gujarat, one person died in Ahmedabad, one in Rajkot, two in Banaskantha, one in Morbi, one in Sabarkantha, three in Mehsana and one in Patan.

Gujarat’s government said in a statement: “Most of the deaths were reported in North Gujarat due to lightning strike and falling of trees.”

The storms have baffled forecasters as they came at a time of year that is typically dry in India.

The extreme weather is said to have come from high levels of moisture from the Arabian Sea.

The weather bomb is the same storm system that caused widespread flooding in Pakistan and Afghanistan, with at least five people killed and 17 injured in Kabul and up to 14 deaths reported in Islamabad.

Weather warnings remain in force across northern India today.

Eastern parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh states are expected to be the effected the worst.

The storms are expected to ease on Thursday, though showers will remain.

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