A devastating storm swept through India’s most populous state on Wednesday, killing 89 people and leaving destruction in its wake, according to state disaster management officials who released the death toll on Thursday.
The severe weather struck Uttar Pradesh with powerful winds, heavy rainfall, and hailstones during what officials described as “adverse weather conditions” on Wednesday, the state’s relief commissioner announced in a social media post.
Beyond the tragic loss of life, the storm left 53 people with injuries, destroyed 87 homes, and killed 114 farm animals throughout the region, authorities reported.
News footage captured the storm’s destructive power as strong winds toppled large trees and advertising signs, with debris crashing into vehicles while dust clouds engulfed the area and scattered wooden furniture from street vendors.
A state relief official confirmed to news agencies that many of the deaths resulted from trees falling on victims and residential walls collapsing under the storm’s force.
These types of severe storms typically occur in the northern Indian state during the hot months spanning March through June, before monsoon season arrives to provide relief from the intense heat.
The state’s chief minister, whose administration operates under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, has ordered government officials to provide immediate assistance to storm survivors and distribute emergency financial support within one day, according to state authorities.
