Powerful wind and rain storms swept across northern India, causing road accidents, demolishing houses, uprooting trees and killing at least 40 people, officials said on Monday.

Most of the deaths occurred when winds and falling trees caused buildings to collapse, leaving people buried in the wreckage.

In the town of Bareilly, an under-construction minaret of a mosque fell on a group of people taking shelter in the courtyard of their home, killing five of them.

Meteorological officials say winds reached up to 109 kilometres per hour (68 miles per hour) on Sunday.

Trains and commuter rail lines were paused and dozens of flights were diverted from New Delhi's international airport as the storm blew into the city.

At least 38 people were killed in sprawling Uttar Pradesh state, which has a population of more than 210 million people, said government spokesman Avnish Awasthi.

In the Eastern Indian state of Bihar, strong winds caused railings along roads to cave in, leading to traffic woes.

"Saddened by the loss of lives due to storms," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet. "Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured."