North India Reels Under Severe Weather: 52 Dead Across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand
A wave of extreme weather swept across several parts of North India on Thursday, leaving devastation in its path as thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and lightning battered Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. The sudden weather shift brought life to a standstill in many areas, triggering both human and economic losses.
Death Toll Mounts to 52 Across Three States
As per the latest official updates, the fierce weather has claimed at least 52 lives across the three states. Bihar remains the worst affected, reporting 25 deaths, while Uttar Pradesh recorded 22 fatalities and Jharkhand confirmed 5 deaths, most of them attributed to lightning strikes and storm-related accidents.
Bihar: Lightning and Hailstorm Leave 25 Dead, Crops Damaged
In Bihar, the destructive impact of the unseasonal storm was felt most severely in the Nalanda district, which alone reported 18 casualties. The state government confirmed the loss of 25 lives, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his condolences to the grieving families. He also announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased.
The storm has also left a deep impact on agriculture, with standing crops damaged extensively by heavy rain and hail. Low-lying areas are struggling with waterlogging, adding to the misery of local farmers. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘Orange Alert’ for several districts, including Patna, Gaya, Supaul, Darbhanga, and Nalanda, warning of more unstable weather in the coming days.
Uttar Pradesh: Unseasonal Storms Kill 22, Damage Homes and Livestock
In neighboring Uttar Pradesh, the toll reached 22 as lightning strikes and strong winds caused widespread destruction. Beyond the human loss, the state also reported significant damage to livestock, with 45 cattle perishing in the storm, and 15 homes suffering partial or total structural collapse.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conveyed his sympathies and directed the district administration to ensure that relief efforts and compensation reached the affected families swiftly. Compensation for livestock losses has also been announced, with varying amounts based on the size and type of the animal — ranging from ₹4,000 for small milking animals to ₹37,500 for large ones.
Meanwhile, the IMD has sounded a weather alert for districts including Lucknow, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Raebareli, and Azamgarh, warning of the risk of more heavy rainfall and lightning over the next 48 hours.
Jharkhand: Lightning Claims 5 Lives, Hailstorm Ravages Fields
Jharkhand, too, witnessed the wrath of the changing weather, as lightning strikes led to five fatalities — three in Hazaribagh and one each in Churchu and Gumla. Daltonganj recorded the heaviest rainfall, measuring 31.8 mm.
Several districts, including Koderma, Dhanbad, and Hazaribagh, were hit by severe hailstorms, with the landscape blanketed in ice-like hailstones, causing further damage to standing crops. Trees and power poles were uprooted in many areas, plunging several localities into darkness and disrupting transportation and electricity supply.
As the region braces for more turbulent weather, state authorities are working on damage control, while relief and rehabilitation efforts have been rolled out for those affected. The unseasonal nature of these storms has also raised concerns about the growing frequency of extreme weather patterns linked to climate change.
