State briefs

24 dead in thunderstorms
At least 24 people have died in the thunderstorms that have hit several parts of the state since Sunday. Nine persons died in Pratapgarh,eight deaths were reported from Aligarh,two each from Jaunpur and Mau and one each from Sultanpur,Lucknow and Nawabganj in storm-related incidents,said officials. Trees and electric and telephone poles were uprooted in a number of places,disrupting train and vehicular movement. Power supply was also affected,said officials.

Criminal killed in encounter
A criminal who had 16 cases registered against him was killed in an encounter in Agra district on Sunday night,said police today. “Ajay alias Chottu,who escaped from the custody of Rajasthan Police in February this year,was killed in an encounter in Iradatnagar area of Agra,” said Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Brij Lal. A country-made firearm and cartridges were recovered,said the DGP,adding two of his aidesmanaged to flee. “He had cases lodged against him in UP,Haryana and Rajasthan,” he added.

Nine die in accident
Nine died and several persons were injured when a roadways bus rammed into a wedding party in Azamgarh’s Gambhirpur area on Monday evening.