Updated death toll at 3.30pm

At least 91 people have died and more than 160 are injured after a powerful dust storm and rain swept parts of north and western India.

Houses collapsed and trees fell as the devastation was particularly severe on Wednesday night in Agra, the northern city that hosts the Taj Mahal.

Some 43 people died there as the wind speed touched 130km (80mph) per hour, said relief commissioner Sanjay Kumar of Uttar Pradesh state.

At least 64 people died and another 67 were injured in northern Uttar Pradesh state, he said.

In the western state of Rajasthan, the Press Trust of India news agency said 27 others died and 100 were injured. Most deaths were caused by house collapses and lightning.

The rainstorm caught people by surprise as the monsoon season is still more than six weeks away.

Uprooted trees flattened the mud huts of the poor, Mr Kumar said.

Electrical and telephone lines were snapped in parts of Uttar Pradesh state, he said.

The devastation is particularly severe in Agra, the northern Indian city where the Taj Mahal is located, according to officials.

Relief commissioner Sanjay Kumar said 36 people died there as the wind speed touched 80 miles per hour. Some people also were killed by lightning.

There was no damage to the monument.

The Press Trust of India news agency said at least 27 others have died and another 100 were injured in the western Indian state of Rajasthan.

The rainstorm caught people by surprise as the monsoon season is still more than six weeks away.

Uprooted trees flattened the mud huts of the poor, Mr Kumar said.

Electricity supply and telephone lines were snapped in parts of Uttar Pradesh state, he added.