Deadly dust storms have swept across northern India - killing 116 and injuring 250 others.

The overnight storm ravaged the territories of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan - with the death toll only expected to rise further, according to officials.

Most of the victims were hit by falling walls and trees as powerful winds tore down buildings in hundreds of towns and villages.

The dust clouds plunged swathes of north India into darkness as winds of more than 130 kilometres per hour.

Many people were sleeping as intense bursts of lightning destroyed their houses overnight as they became trapped inside.

Relief workers are now battling to clear debris in affected areas and provide urgent medical care to those injured in the storms.

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Commuters struggled to deal with the smog being forced to cover their eyes and mouths so as not to inhale the dust

Hundreds of people were left needing treatment as they sustained wounds from falling objects

A an is lifted from the rubble of his own home after the storm destroyed the house in Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Enormous lightning strikes set fire to houses and destroyed them completely as people slept

Falling trees squashed cars and houses in several towns as many were killed by the tumbling branches

The winds were so powerful that even solid brick walls fell victim to the storm as houses across the north of the country crumbled

Hemant Gera, secretary for disaster management and relief in Rajasthan, told the BBC the storms were 'the worst he'd seen for 20 years'.

'We had a high intensity dust storm on 11 April - 19 people died then - but this time it struck during the night so many people sleeping and couldn't get out of their houses when mud walls collapsed,' Mr Gora said.

The state government has announced that families of the dead will receive 400,000 rupees (about $6,000; £4,400) as compensation.

200,000 rupees (about $3,000 or £2,200) will also be given to those who were seriously injured in the catastrophe.

'We can confirm at least 46 deaths, 41 injuries from around 40 of the state's 75 districts,' T.P. Gupta of the Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner's office told AFP.

The Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, home to the Taj Mahal monument, was one of the worst hit, according to media reports.

There were 46 confirmed deaths in Uttar Pradesh in the north and 31 in Rajasthan to the west.

The local government in Uttar Pradesh government has reportedly sounded an alert for the next 48 hours.

Doctors and volunteers worked tirelessly to try and help those injured in the freak weather tragedy

Falling telephone wires caused total power outages in many regions as relief workers battled to restore the electricity supply

Torrential rain followed the dust storm and made accessing the affected areas even more difficult for emergency services

Among the worst affected areas were the northern states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh

The storm also hit the capital Delhi, more than 100km (62 miles) away, along with heavy rains late on Wednesday evening.

A dramatic video, posted on Twitter, showed a thick layer of dust blanketing the Delhi skyline - hundreds of miles away from the centre of the storm.

Tweeting his condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had directed central officials to coordinate with respective state governments for relief work.

'Saddened by the loss of lives due to dust storms in various parts of India. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,' he tweeted.

'Have asked officials to coordinate with the respective state governments and work towards assisting those who have been affected.'

The government said there were still storm warnings out in several Indian territories for the next 48 hours

Traffic in Delhi was brought to a standstill as first dust then rain played havoc with transport systems

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government would be coordinating with local authorities to provide relief

The storm also killed thousands of animals - leaving scores of people across India without vital livestock

Among the dead animals were hundreds of parrots and thousands of farm animals - like sheep and cows

The dust storms tore through several northern Indian towns, smashing down structures with powerful winds