People were caught off guard with no alert issued for evacuation or even to take precautions. (Photo: PTI)

Officials of the Meteorological Department have warned about another storm but not its intensity.

The department fell short in issuing an alert on Wednesday that caused massive destruction in eastern Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh.

In Rajasthan alone the toll has crossed 42. People were caught off guard with no alert issued for evacuation or even to take precautions. This is the same region that was hit by a severe storm in April that killed 19 in Bharatpur.

The Met department admitted that its radar wasn't working for a month and because of this it could not determine the precise intensity of the storm.

Whatever information it had was put on its website alone and not sent to the state government, local media reports said.

But even then, the Met department's capability here appears rather limited as its alerts do not specify the intensity of storms.

"Most of the alerts in recent times have been under the yellow category which just informs about likely storms," said Hemant Gera, secretary, disaster management and relief, Rajasthan government.

Even last month's storm that killed 19 in Bharatpur was under the yellow category.

Under yellow category, government officials are made aware of a storm. This information is sent to the disaster relief department which forwards it to collectors via Whatsapp.

Under orange category, the administration is asked to stay prepared and red requires action.

There is no information sent out about the intensity and likely impact of the impending natural disaster.

Even information that has been sent for the next five days under the yellow category is only a signal that a storm is expected.

However, a wise decision taken after last month's disaster in Bharatpur has helped the government release immediate compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased.

Such storms are not notified under the Centre's twelve natural disasters. But last month, the state realised that any calamity which leads to the death of more than ten persons and causes injury to a hundred can be put under the category of state disaster.

Also read: Weather warning: IMD says expect heavy dust and thunderstorm till May 8

Also read: Rajasthan, UP may witness more thundershowers

Watch: Thunder, hailstorm damage crops on large scale in Gurgaon