Severe Hailstorm and Lightning in Uttar Pradesh Leave at Least 56 Dead Across 24 Districts

By Editor in Chief On May 23, 2025

Lucknow – In a devastating turn of events, at least 56 people lost their lives across 24 districts in Uttar Pradesh following a fierce spell of hailstorms, heavy rain, and lightning that struck the state from Wednesday night through early Thursday morning, according to the office of the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner.

The violent weather system wreaked havoc, particularly in western Uttar Pradesh, which bore the brunt of the storm. The affected regions reported widespread power outages, infrastructure damage, destruction of property, and significant agricultural losses, prompting the state government to initiate urgent relief operations.

District-Wise Fatalities

Preliminary data compiled by state officials reveal a grim picture:

Fatehpur reported the highest toll with 6 deaths
Kasganj followed with 5 deaths
Meerut, Kanpur Nagar, Bulandshahr, Etah, and Auraiya each reported 4 deaths
Gautam Buddha Nagar and Kannauj recorded 3 deaths apiece
Ghaziabad, Firozabad, Kanpur Dehat, and Etawah reported 2 fatalities each
Aligarh, Hathras, Chitrakoot, Ambedkar Nagar, Amethi, Jhansi, Agra, Unnao, Baghpat, Azamgarh, and Ayodhya each saw 1 death

.Administrative Response and Relief Efforts

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the tragic loss of lives and instructed district administrations to respond with full urgency. He directed officials to visit the affected areas, conduct thorough assessments of human and material losses, and monitor ongoing relief work closely.

According to a government spokesperson, senior officials from Lucknow have been dispatched to the worst-hit districts to evaluate the damage firsthand and ensure timely disbursement of compensation to the bereaved families.

The Chief Minister emphasized that injured persons must receive immediate and adequate medical care, and compensation for loss of livestock and property should also be released promptly.

Additionally, the Chief Minister has ordered a comprehensive survey of crop damage, with a directive to prioritize drainage and restoration efforts in waterlogged regions.

Widespread Damage and Casualties

The storm brought strong winds, intense rain, and hail to cities and villages alike, causing a wave of destruction:

In Meerut, four deaths were reported. The storm knocked down trees and hoardings, disrupting traffic and damaging electrical infrastructure.
In Saharanpur, two residents—Anil Kumar (65) of Khajuri and Ankit (30) of Kurdi—were fatally struck by lightning.
A tragic incident in Firozabad saw an 80-year-old woman killed when a wall collapsed on her in Mogra village.
In Etah, three individuals died due to storm-related incidents in the Jalesar and Jaithra regions.
In Kanpur Dehat, a 35-year-old woman died in Shivli, while in Kannauj, a 26-year-old man perished when a wall under construction collapsed on him.

Infrastructure Damage

Numerous reports of electrical infrastructure collapse poured in from districts like Mainpuri, where approximately 400 electricity poles were uprooted. Mathura also faced a complete disruption of power supply due to fallen trees on transmission lines.

In Kasganj, five people died in Amanpur, Sahawar, and the Kasganj town area. A fire broke out in Lahra village, believed to have been sparked by the storm’s chaos.

In Jhansi, a 44-year-old man lost his life at the railway station when a metal hoarding structure collapsed during the storm.

In Budaun, an oil factory caught fire after a structural collapse led to a spark that ignited stored oil. The fire, which raged through the night, was worsened by a powerful explosion of hydrogen cylinders around 4:15 a.m. Thursday, according to District Fire Officer Ramraj Yadav. Thankfully, no loss of life was reported in this incident.

In Bijnor, constable Pushpendra (35) died in Afzalgarh when his motorcycle crashed into a tree that had fallen across the road during the storm.

Eastern Uttar Pradesh Also Affected

Although the storm primarily impacted western regions, eastern UP was not entirely spared:

In Sonbhadra, heavy rain and thunderstorms uprooted trees in Babhani, Duddhi, and Beejpur. Lightning strikes claimed the lives of a 30-year-old woman in Duddhi and a six-year-old girl in Hanthinala.
In Kushinagar and Gorakhpur, hail and lightning resulted in two deaths. The storm also damaged electricity poles at more than 70 locations, leading to prolonged outages.
In Agra, the Ambedkar bridge sustained structural damage.
In Hathras, a local from Panch Nagaria village died when trees and electric poles were brought down by the storm.

Public Safety Measures

Authorities have since issued advisories urging citizens to stay indoors during such weather events. Rescue and repair operations have been launched in multiple districts, with emergency crews working to restore power, clear fallen trees, and support affected families.

Meteorological officials have indicated that the sudden shift in weather patterns was driven by atmospheric instability and have warned of the possibility of similar events in the coming weeks.