​Devastating storm across UP claims 117 lives, damages homes & livestock across UP

Lucknow: A devastating thunderstorm that swept across Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday left behind a trail of destruction, killing as many as 117 people.According to data released by the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner’s office, 113 deaths occurred due to violent storms and collapsing structures, while four people lost their lives in lightning strikes.The disaster, which unfolded on Wednesday afternoon, also left 79 injured, caused the death of 177 animals, and damaged 330 houses across several districts.The worst-affected district was Prayagraj, where 23 people died after strong winds uprooted trees, collapsed walls and damaged houses.Mirzapur followed with 19 deaths, while Sant Ravidas Nagar recorded 16 casualties and Fatehpur reported 11 deaths.Districts, including Rae Bareli, Unnao and Budaun, also witnessed significant loss of life.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported wind speeds touching nearly cyclonic levels in several districts.Bareilly and Prayagraj recorded gusts of up to 130 kmph, among the highest measured in the state in recent years.Chandauli witnessed winds of 113 kmph, while Budaun saw 109 kmph.Mirzapur and Rampur recorded 107 kmph, and Moradabad experienced winds crossing 102 kmph.Such wind velocities are capable of uprooting trees, damaging electricity poles and flattening weak structures, which explains the extensive destruction witnessed across rural and semi -urban areas.

Apart from human casualties, the storm inflicted heavy damage on livestock and property.Sant Ravidas Nagar reported 28 animal deaths, Rae Bareli 24 and Prayagraj 20. Chandauli and Sonbhadra reported severe damage to houses, with 83 and 81 houses damaged, respectively.Relief officials stated that district administrations have started assessment and compensation procedures.Relief Commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod said that the state govt has initiated relief distribution and each deceased victim’s family would receive Rs 4 lakh as compensation under State Disaster Response Fund norms.

Compensation for damaged houses, injured persons and livestock losses will also be provided after verification by district authorities.Mohammad Danish, senior scientist, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Lucknow, said: “The intense storm that hit southern, eastern and northwest parts of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday was a thunder squall with high velocity winds along with gusts measuring upto 100 km per hour.”“A squall is a storm when wind velocity increases suddenly and rapidly, hitting things on the ground with instant speed, causing more damage as it hits things on the ground all of sudden. Hence, uprooting of trees/poles and blowing/collapsing of shanties and temporary structures is more during a squall. It also gives little time to people to take refuge at a safe place,” he explained.“Thundersquall was created because of some local factors as well as western disturbance over Pakistan and a cyclonic circulation over west UP. Temperatures in southern parts of the state and Terai Belt rose suddenly, heating the ground intensely, resulting in hot air above the surface to move upwards. As this hot air rose, cooler winds moved in to fill the vacuum, leading to high velocity squall,” he said.With no weather system coming, heat conditions will intensify with hot winds in several parts of the state.​