Storm kills at least 89 in India’s Uttar Pradesh

The storm uprooted trees, damaged houses and disrupted electricity, communication and transport networks in many areas. Authorities continued rescue, relief and restoration work on Thursday.

According to official figures, the death toll rose sharply overnight from 27 to 89.

The highest number of fatalities was reported in Prayagraj, where 21 people were killed. Sant Ravidas Nagar recorded 14 deaths, followed by Fatehpur with 11 and Mirzapur with 10.

Six people died in Unnao and five in Badaun. Four deaths each were reported in Bareilly and Pratapgarh. Hardoi, Kanpur Dehat, Sonbhadra and Sambhal reported two deaths each, while three people died in Sitapur.

One death each was reported in Basti, Rae Bareli and Shahjahanpur.

In Prayagraj, officials said seven people died in Handia, four in Phulpur, three in Soraon and two in Meja.

Strong winds uprooted large trees and blocked roads across the district, disrupting traffic. Electricity supply was also cut in several areas.

Municipal teams were deployed to remove fallen trees from roads, including Patthar Girjaghar, Ashok Nagar, Kachahari Road and Mahatma Gandhi Marg.

The storm also caused damage in the Triveni Sangam area, where huts used by pilgrimage priests were blown away.

Officials said tin sheds and solar panels were torn off by the strong winds, while collapsing walls crushed cars and motorcycles in several places.

The weather changed suddenly around 5 pm on Wednesday, bringing dark clouds and dust storms that turned daytime into near darkness.

In one of the deadliest incidents, four people, including a woman and her three daughters, were killed in Khargasenpur village in Sant Ravidas Nagar after a tree fell on their house.

Additional District Magistrate Kunwar Virendra Kumar Maurya said rescue and restoration efforts were hampered by disruptions to mobile phone networks.

He said district officials and police teams were conducting inspections and relief work across affected areas.

In Badaun, five people were killed in separate incidents.

Two girls, aged 10 and 9, died in Siddhpur Kaitholi village when a mud wall collapsed on them as they sheltered from the storm. Two women were seriously injured in the same incident.

In another incident, a 40-year-old woman died after a tree fell on a tubewell room where several people had taken shelter.

A truck driver was killed when a eucalyptus tree fell on his vehicle, while another young man died after a tree struck him while he was carrying food to his father, reports UNB.

Officials said the death toll could rise further as damage assessments continue and rescue teams remain deployed in the worst-hit districts.