Thunderstorm, Lightning, and Heavy Rain Kill 89 Across Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow (IANS): Thunderstorms, heavy rain, hailstorms, and lightning strikes killed at least 89 people and injured 53 others across several districts of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday evening, officials said.

The severe weather caused widespread destruction across the state, prompting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to order immediate relief and rescue operations.

The Chief Minister expressed condolences to the families of the victims and directed officials to visit affected areas without delay to provide assistance and compensation.

He instructed District Magistrates and other officials to conduct priority ground surveys so authorities can quickly release compensation for loss of lives, livestock, and crop damage in coordination with concerned departments.

Yogi Adityanath also ordered all districts to submit situation reports every three hours and asked officials to prioritise rescue and relief measures. He further directed authorities to share updates related to compensation and relief work on social media platforms.

According to the Relief Commissioner’s Office, the storm also killed 114 livestock and damaged 87 houses across the state.

Officials said the Relief Commissioner’s Office is monitoring the situation through direct communication with district administrations and releasing necessary funds to affected districts.

Prayagraj recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 21 deaths, followed by Sant Ravidas Nagar with 14 deaths and Fatehpur with 11. Authorities also reported deaths from Barabanki, Bahraich, Kanpur Dehat, Basti, Sambhal, Hardoi, and Unnao districts.

Additional District Magistrate Vineeta Singh said powerful winds and severe storms hit Prayagraj on Wednesday evening, causing extensive destruction.

“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 told IANS.

Fatehpur District Magistrate Nidhi Gupta Vats said the death toll in the district rose to 11, while 15 people suffered serious injuries. She added that rescue and relief operations are continuing on the ground.

The storm uprooted trees, damaged homes, and triggered wall collapse incidents in several districts late Wednesday evening. Authorities also reported multiple lightning strike incidents from different parts of the state.