A vicious cycle of torrential rain, thunderstorms and hailstorms has killed at least 89 people and injured 53 more in multiple districts across Uttar Pradesh, leading to widespread disaster and fear.
The severe weather conditions have driven trees over, destroyed homes and cut electricity supplies in several areas, dramatically disrupting daily life in parts of the state.
The deaths, mainly involving lightning strikes, wall collapses, falling trees and damage to roofs in the last 24 hours after heavy storms struck over several districts, were mostly linked to storms, officials said. Several of the victims were said to have been outside working, or to have been travelling, when the ferocious weather struck.
Rescue and relief operations continue in the affected regions, and district administrations and disaster response teams have been placed on high alert. Dozens of people reported being injured and treated at local hospitals, the authorities confirmed.
Heavy rain, strong winds and big hailstones struck hardest in the worst regions. The crops, homes and public infrastructure that had been affected were destroyed. Kutcha houses collapsed under the blow of the storm, hitting rural areas disproportionately hard. Electricity in many towns went out due to wind battering at the poles and transmission lines.
Roads swamped with water, trees uprooted, and roads damaged kept traffic flow across districts disrupted. Officials in state disaster management said their compensation guidelines for the families of the dead victims had been established. Local officials were also dispatched to appraise crop damage and proceed quickly to assist farmers hit hard by the disaster to get relief there.
Earlier warnings had been issued by the India Meteorological Department of thunderstorms, lightning and heavy precipitation in large parts of Uttar Pradesh and nearby states. Local meteorologists said there could be more unstable weather in some areas in the coming days.
CM Yogi Adityanath regretted that the people were lost, and requested officials to assist in the medical care of the injured persons. He also instructed district administrations to accelerate relief efforts and to watch over vulnerable areas. The extreme weather once again highlighted the increasing peril of extreme weather across northern India.
Residents were instructed to stay inside during thunderstorms, stay away from the shelter of trees and stay on top of any weather advisories supplied by local administrations, authorities advised.
