Nearly 90 killed as storm and rain batter Uttar Pradesh; relief work under way

Officials said funds are being made available to districts and the Chief Minister instructed direct communication with affected families and ongoing monitoring of the situation.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav urged the Uttar Pradesh government to undertake relief and rescue operations on a ‘war footing’, called for immediate treatment for the injured, provision of food and drinking water, temporary accommodation for those affected, dignified last rites, and an early assessment of damage to life, property, crops and vehicles to facilitate insurance claims and compensation.

In Sonbhadra district, Madhav Singh (38) died after being trapped under a tree uprooted during the rain and the storm.

In Deoria, Komal Yadav (62) died after being struck by lightning; two others were injured. Ramnath Prasad (65) died in a lightning strike.

In Kanpur Dehat district, two persons died in rain-related incidents. In Bhauthari village under the Rasulabad area, a 19-year-old woman, Ruchi, died after being struck by lightning while standing under a neem tree with goats; a 60-year-old man nearby was injured and goats also died.

Police sources described several incident details: Bhim Yadav (25) died after being trapped under the debris of a cemented shed in Ojha Ka Purwa village, Lalganj Kotwali; Bhushan Pandey (56) died after a wall collapsed in Sari Swami village, under the Baghrai police station area; Shanti Devi (46) of Narangpur village and Lal Bahadur (44) of Chhatrapur Shivala Raghna village also died in storm-related incidents.

In Pratapgarh, four people died in separate incidents of wall and cemented shed collapses and lightning strikes amid strong winds and rain, officials said.

According to a list issued by the Prayagraj district administration, seven deaths were reported in Handia, four in Phulpur, three in Soraon, two in Meja and one in Sadar. In Bhadohi, district administration sources said at least 16 people died in storm-related incidents.

The Relief Commissioner’s office stated on X that for May 13 weather, 89 deaths, 53 injured, 114 livestock losses and damage to 87 houses have been received in the state. The Chief Minister directed divisional commissioners and district magistrates to verify incidents with full sensitivity and to ensure financial assistance is distributed to affected families within 24 hours, while establishing direct communication with them and extending other necessary help. The office said funds are continuously made available to districts and the situation is being monitored through direct coordination with district officials.

A strong storm, heavy rain, hailstorm and lightning struck several districts in Uttar Pradesh, uprooting trees and electric poles and damaging houses.