A powerful spell of thunderstorms, heavy rain, hailstorms, and lightning strikes tore through several districts of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday evening, leaving at least 89 people dead and 53 injured, officials said on Thursday.
The large-scale destruction prompted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to order immediate rescue and relief operations across affected districts, with officials directed to stay on alert and submit regular situation reports every three hours.
According to the Relief Commissioner’s Office, the severe weather also killed 114 livestock and damaged 87 houses. The administration said district authorities are being provided funds and assistance on priority as teams continue surveys in affected areas.
Prayagraj reported the highest number of deaths at 21, followed by Sant Ravidas Nagar with 14 fatalities and Fatehpur with 11. Deaths were also reported from districts including Basti, Sambhal, Kanpur Dehat, Barabanki, Bahraich, Hardoi and Unnao.
Chief Minister Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of those killed and instructed District Magistrates to immediately reach affected locations and speed up relief work. He also asked officials to carry out ground assessments to ensure compensation for loss of life, livestock and crop damage is released without delay.
The Chief Minister further directed authorities to regularly share updates related to compensation and relief efforts through social media platforms.
Prayagraj records highest deaths after storm fury
Additional District Magistrate Vineeta Singh told IANS that strong winds and an intense storm caused extensive damage in Prayagraj district on Wednesday evening.
“Till late at night, 17 deaths had been reported in Prayagraj district. Later during the night, the number rose to 21. Lekhpal officials and the district administration reached the affected spots and carried out the necessary formalities. The relief amount provided by the government will be made available promptly once the required documents are received,” she said.
In Fatehpur, District Magistrate Nidhi Gupta Vats said the death toll had climbed to 11, while 15 people sustained serious injuries.
She said rescue and relief operations were underway, with administrative teams deployed on the ground.
Trees uprooted, houses damaged in several districts
The storm system that swept across the state late Wednesday uprooted trees, damaged homes and led to multiple wall collapse incidents in several areas. Lightning strikes were also reported from different districts during the spell of extreme weather.
Officials from the Relief Commissioner’s Office said they are in constant touch with district administrations and monitoring developments closely.
The state government has asked all concerned departments to coordinate relief distribution and expedite compensation for affected families.