A series of powerful storms that swept through India’s Uttar Pradesh state has left at least 111 people dead and dozens injured, according to state officials. The violent weather struck several districts on Wednesday, bringing strong winds, lightning, and heavy rainfall that caused widespread destruction across the region.
Authorities initially reported 89 deaths, but the number increased as more districts submitted casualty reports. Officials also confirmed that over 200 homes were damaged, while fallen trees and debris blocked roads and disrupted daily life in many areas.
Television footage from affected cities showed roofs being ripped off buildings and vehicles crushed under uprooted trees. One of the most shocking incidents came from Bareilly district, where a laborer named Nanhe Ansari was reportedly lifted into the air by a large tin roof during intense winds. According to local media, he survived after falling into a flooded maize field.
Ansari explained from his hospital bed that he and several others were trying to secure the metal roof with ropes when a sudden gust of wind carried both him and the sheet high into the air. Despite suffering injuries, he survived the terrifying incident.
Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populated state with over 240 million residents, regularly experiences severe storms during the summer season before the arrival of monsoon rains. Weather experts say that extreme weather events such as thunderstorms and lightning strikes are becoming more frequent because of rising temperatures and changing climate conditions.
The state’s Relief Commissioner’s office confirmed that financial assistance will be provided to affected families. Emergency teams have also been directed to continue rescue and relief operations in the worst hit districts.
Meteorologists stated that the deadly storms were part of intense pre monsoon weather activity caused by unstable atmospheric conditions across northern India. Authorities are urging residents to remain alert as more severe weather could occur in the coming days.
