New York: Deadly tornadoes and fierce thunderstorms swept across more than dozen states in the United States, killing at least 35 people, leaving over 200 injured or missing and reducing many neighbourhoods to shambles.

Rescue workers sifted through the wreckage and pulled survivors in heavy rain as dazed survivors looked for their relatives, friends and tried to retrieve whatever they could from rubbles of their homes.

Officials say the toll could rise as the rescue workers reach communities cut off by the storms.

The rare weather phenomenon occurred on November 11 when unusually warm weather combined with cold from Canada and about 70 deadly tornadoes lashed the states in South, East and Mid West of the US.

These were the deadliest storms since the death of 44 people in Oklahoma and Kansas by tornadoes in May 1999.

The hardest hit was reported to be Tennessee where more than 16 people died and 55 injured. Another ten were reported killed in Alabama and five in Ohio.

The states which suffered heavy damage included Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. Destruction was also reported from cities and towns thousands of kilometres apart with houses reduced to rubble.

Thousands in the region were without electricity as the storms downed the power lines.

The weathermen forecast more storms but say their severity might be less. Several affected states were reporting severe weather on November 12 also.

PTI