India, May 27 -- At least 18 lives in four states reportedly succumbed to the harrowing onslaught of tornadoes and storms hitting the central United States hard. Imminent weather threats consumed the Memorial Day weekend as fierce winds erupted Sunday, targeting the mid-Mississippi, Ohio and Tennesse River valleys.

The Storm Prediction Center issued an alert of "violent tornadoes, extreme hail and corridors of widespread wind damage." Additionally, the SPC forewarned about "several tornadoes and few intense likely," while declaring the tornado watch a "particularly dangerous situation." The stormy weather watch encompasses parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, and is said to be affecting 4.7 million people.

Acco...