NEW DELHI: A violent storm bringing rain, lightning, and hail scythed across India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, killing more than 100 people, rescue officials said on Thursday, as the chief minister ordered relief funds to be distributed within 24 hours.
Storms are common in the northern state during the hot season from March to June before monsoon rains bring respite, but Wednesday’s storm injured 59 people, damaged 87 homes, and killed 114 livestock, authorities said.
At least 104 people died in about a dozen districts, the worst hit being the area around the Hindu pilgrimage city of Prayagraj, the office of the state’s relief commissioner, Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod said.
“The entire area where we live turned black for around half an hour,” said Ashok Rai, who lives in the coal-rich industrial town of Obra in the state’s Sonbhadra district.
“Strong winds lifted hoardings and signboards and thick coal dust from the ground and hurled them around,” he added.
Television footage showed widespread destruction in the aftermath of the powerful storm, with uprooted trees, damaged billboards and debris scattered across roads and crushed vehicles. Strong winds also swept away wooden furniture and temporary structures at roadside stalls, disrupting traffic and daily life in several areas.
Officials said the severe weather caused significant damage to homes, markets and public infrastructure, while power outages were reported in multiple districts. Emergency teams were deployed to clear roads and restore essential services.
According to a state relief official quoted by Reuters, several fatalities were reported after trees collapsed and walls gave way during the storm. Rescue and relief operations continued in the affected regions as authorities assessed the scale of the damage.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, whose state is governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, directed officials to provide immediate assistance to survivors and ensure that financial compensation is distributed to affected families within 24 hours, according to authorities.
