Further storms forecast after more than 114 left dead in India

Since Wednesday, fierce winds and lightning strikes created by a powerful dust storm have led to the deaths of scores of people in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, and injured hundreds more, according to local officials.

The Indian Meteorological Department said more high winds, dust storms and isolated thunderstorms were forecast for the affected areas in the next five days.

Sanjay Kumar, relief commissioner in Uttar Pradesh told CNN affiliate News 18, "today and tomorrow in some parts of western Uttar Pradesh, we are expecting thunderstorms ... the authorities have been told to be on alert (for greater) loss of life so that they can respond."

"From the state level we are monitoring and we are trying to get satellite imagery data also to alert, and disseminate information to the villages," he added. "I think this is one of the most disastrous [storms] in recent times, as far as Uttar Pradesh is concerned."

JP Gupta, director at India Meteorological Department Lucknow, said most of Uttar Pradesh will be "clear of any dust storms."

"What happened on May 2, that's not expected for now at least for the next three, four days," said Gupta, who described the previous storm as a convergence of unique factors, including strong easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal interacting with an area of low pressure area across the state.

Falling debris

Electricity poles have been downed and trees uprooted across the region, leaving many households without power. Water shortages have also been reported.

Many of the deaths occurred as a result of falling debris and collapsing walls. "When the storm came, the walls of the upper floor fell down onto the first floor," Ramesh Mistri, who lives in Jhunjhunu district in India's western state of Rajasthan, told News 18.

Mistri was injured when the wall fell. "There were seven of us sitting in the house and everyone got crushed by the walls," he added.

Pura Ram, another Rajasthan resident, told the broadcaster, "first the walls from the upper level fell down. Along with that, our roof also fell down and broke into pieces."

According to News 18, no warnings of "severe thunderstorm activity" were issued for Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan before the storms hit, even though they were in place for other states. Other weather warnings were issued which covered northern India.

CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri said India "is in the beginning stages of the onset of its annual summer monsoons."

"Afternoon storms and periods of torrential rainfall have been more and more prevalent in this region over the past several weeks," he added. "These afternoon storms were likely the culprit, bringing powerful winds to the impacted areas and setting the dust and sand in motion."

Javaheri noted the region has had multiple years of below average rains during the summer monsoons, increasing the chance of dust and sand being swept up by strong winds.