Man goes flying in storm, rain-related death toll rises over 100 in UP

More than 100 people were killed, and over 53 were injured across several districts of Uttar Pradesh after a powerful storm accompanied by heavy rain, dust, and strong winds caused widespread destruction on Wednesday evening. Officials stated that the storm uprooted trees, damaged houses, disrupted traffic movement, and affected electricity and communication networks in multiple districts. Prayagraj recorded the highest number of deaths with 21 fatalities, followed by Sant Ravidas Nagar with 14 and Fatehpur with 11. In Barieilly, a man was seen flying in storm along with a massive shed.

According to district-wise figures released by officials, Mirzapur reported 10 deaths, while six people died in Unnao and five in Badaun. Four deaths each were reported from Bareilly and Pratapgarh. Hardoi, Kanpur Dehat, Sonbhadra, and Sambhal reported two deaths each, while Sitapur recorded three fatalities. One death each was reported from Basti, Rae Bareli, and Shahjahanpur. Administrative teams continued damage assessment and rescue operations in the affected regions.

In Prayagraj, severe dust storms and strong winds caused extensive destruction in Handia, Phulpur, Soraon, and Meja areas. Officials stated that seven people died in Handia, four in Phulpur, three in Soraon, and two in Meja. Strong winds uprooted large trees across roads and residential areas, disrupting traffic movement throughout the district. Municipal teams began clearing fallen trees from major locations including Patthar Girjaghar, Ashok Nagar, Kachahari Road, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, and Kalyani Devi locality.

Electricity supply was disrupted in several parts of Prayagraj after trees and structures collapsed during the storm. Authorities stated that the weather changed suddenly around 5 PM, bringing intense dust storms and dark clouds that reduced visibility across the district. Damage was also reported at the Triveni Sangam area, where huts constructed by pilgrimage priests were uprooted. Tin sheds, solar panels, walls, and roadside structures were damaged in multiple localities due to the high-intensity winds.

In Sant Ravidas Nagar district, four people, including a woman and her three daughters, died in Khargasenpur village under Suriyawan police station limits after a tree collapsed onto a house during the storm. In Badaun district, two minor girls identified as Mausami and Rajni died after a mud wall collapsed on a hut where they had taken shelter from the storm. Two women identified as Kallo and Neha suffered serious injuries in the same incident. In another case in Tark Paroli village, a woman identified as Laxmi died after a tree fell on a tubewell room where several people had gathered during the storm.

Officials stated that restoration and rescue operations faced difficulties because mobile communication networks were disrupted during the storm. Administrative teams, police personnel, and local officials continued inspection and relief work across affected districts. Authorities also reported incidents of falling trees crushing vehicles in multiple areas. Near Bilsi Road in Bisoli, truck driver Yogesh died after a eucalyptus tree fell on his vehicle, while another youth, Anshul Sharma, died after a tree collapsed on him while he was travelling during the storm.