Unseasonal rains accompanied by hailstorms and lightning wreaked havoc across several districts of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, claiming the lives of seven people and prompting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to direct officials to launch immediate relief operations.
The fatalities were reported from Amethi, Firozabad, Siddharthnagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, and Sitapur districts. Lightning strikes were the primary cause of the deaths, according to district officials.
In Firozabad, two individuals — Lalita Devi, a 30-year-old pregnant woman from Daulatpur village, and 32-year-old Padav Veer Singh from Chinari village — died after being struck by lightning. Firozabad ADM Vishu Raja confirmed that financial assistance will be provided to their families.
Siddharthnagar saw the death of 40-year-old labourer Ghanshyam, who was struck by lightning while on his way to work in Gaura Mangua village.
Sitapur reported two separate deaths. Harishchandra (25) died in Moch Khurd village while working in the field, and 55-year-old Kusuma Devi lost her life after a wall collapsed on her due to heavy rainfall in Rasoolpur village.
In Sant Kabir Nagar, 19-year-old Aarti was killed by lightning while working in the field in Malauli village, police said.
In Amethi, 60-year-old Prabhawati was struck by lightning while working in her field, according to SHO Brijesh Singh of Amethi Kotwali.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken serious note of the weather-related tragedies and has instructed officials to visit affected areas, monitor relief efforts, and ensure swift aid. “In cases of death or livestock loss due to natural calamities, compensation must be provided immediately,” the official statement read.
He also emphasized the need for prompt medical treatment for the injured and directed that crop damage surveys be carried out without delay. Officials were asked to report damages to help farmers receive support from the government.
Given the ongoing wheat procurement season, the CM instructed that storage at mandis and procurement centres be secured. In waterlogged areas, he demanded immediate drainage solutions to minimize disruptions for residents and farmers.
According to the Meteorological Department, over two dozen districts in central and eastern UP were affected. Sultanpur recorded the highest rainfall at 25.2 mm, followed by Barabanki (24.8 mm) and Ghazipur (22.6 mm). Lucknow received 11 mm of rain. Districts like Kanpur, Varanasi, Bahraich, Ballia, and Basti also saw scattered showers.
The weather office has issued an alert for more scattered rainfall on Friday, especially in the Terai belt bordering Nepal and other eastern districts.
Sources By Agencies
