Mega storm Sandy hit the US East coast with fierce force today, claiming at least 33 lives across seven states, plunging millions of homes into darkness and leaving the New York Stock Exchange shut for two straight days for the first time since 1888.

More than 7.5 billion people are believed to be without electricity since last night across the eastern coast that bore the brunt of the storm’s fury.

One of the biggest storms to hit the US, Sandy brought strong winds and heavy rains and left at least 10 people dead in New York itself.

The trail of destruction left by the monster storm prompted the President Barack Obama to declare it a “major disaster” in New York and New Jersey.

According to Fox news, at least 33 people had died of consequences from the storm.

During an emergency meeting, Obama told his team that their top priority is to make sure all available resources are being provided to the state and local responders as quickly as possible. He also expressed sorrow over the deaths.

“During the briefing, the President expressed his concern for those impacted by the storm, as well as the heroic first responders who are selflessly putting themselves in harm’s way to protect members of their communities,” the White House said in a statement.

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said at least 10 people were killed as the city stood paralysed by the monster storm.

He said the storm may be the “worst” the New York City has ever experienced. “The impacts will be felt for some time,” he said.

New York and New Jersey combined together has one of the largest concentrations of Indian-Americans in the US. Quite a number of Indian-Americans, particularly in New Jersey, had to leave their homes and had to be evacuated after their houses were flooded.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said it was a devastating sight. “It is beyond anything I thought I’d ever see,” he told a news conference.

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