111 killed, 72 injured as storm, heavy rain batter Uttar Pradesh

At least 111 people were killed and 72 injured after a strong storm and heavy rain pounded several districts of Uttar Pradesh, uprooting trees and damaging houses, an official statement said on Thursday (May 14).

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the loss of lives and damage caused by the unseasonal rain, thunderstorms and lightning on Wednesday and directed officials to ensure relief reaches the affected families within 24 hours.

Also read: Caught in the storm: UP man flung 50 feet with tin shed in Bareilly

In a statement, the Relief Commissioner's office said, "Due to bad weather on May 13, including storms, rain, hailstorm and lightning, reports of 111 deaths were received from 26 districts. 72 persons were injured, 170 livestock losses and damage to 227 houses have been reported in the state."

It said Adityanath has directed all divisional commissioners and district magistrates to verify the incidents "with full sensitivity" and ensure financial assistance is distributed to affected families within 24 hours while establishing direct communication with them and extending other necessary help.

The weather suddenly deteriorated on Wednesday evening, which saw many taking shelter under trees and flyovers. Clouds of dust enveloped large parts of the state, reducing visibility and ripping hoardings and tin sheds.

High velocity winds also uprooted trees and electric poles, many of which blocked roads, crushed vehicles and damaged houses.

Rescue efforts were launched soon after. Many people dug through the debris with bare hands to rescue those trapped, while others rushed the injured, including children, to hospitals.

Man flung 50 feet in air

In Bamiyan village in Bareilly district, a man was thrown about 50 feet in the air along with a tin roof into a field during the storm, resulting in him suffering multiple injuries.

Also read: Air India cancels NYC, Newark flights as 'super bomb' winter storm threatens US East Coast

In Bhadohi, Additional District Magistrate Kunwar Virendra Kumar Maurya said reports were coming from several areas about uprooted trees, electricity poles and damaged houses.

He said restoration and rescue operations faced difficulties because mobile networks were disrupted due to the storm.

Maurya said sub-divisional magistrates, tehsildars, other district officials and police were inspecting and carrying out relief work across all three tehsils of the district.

Two minor girls die as mud wall collapses

In Siddhpur Kaitholi village under Bisoli police station limits in Budaun, two girls — Mausami (10) and Rajni (9) — died after a mud wall of a hut collapsed on them during the storm, police sources said.

The girls, along with two women identified as Kallo and Neha, had taken shelter in the hut after strong winds began. The wall collapsed in the storm, leaving all four trapped under the debris. While the two girls died on the spot, the women sustained serious injuries, officials said.

Also read: Why is India seeing snowfall, hailstorms and rain in March?

In a separate accident near Bilsi Road in Bisoli area in Budaun, lorry driver Yogesh (32) died after a eucalyptus tree uprooted and fell on his vehicle, police said. Another youth, Anshul Sharma (22), a resident of Sahukara locality in Bisoli, succumbed to injuries after a tree fell on him during the storm when he was on his way to deliver food to his father, they said.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi said all possible help would be extended to UP to deal with the aftereffects of the storm, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (May 14) expressed condolences over the heavy casualties and damage caused by the natural disaster.

(With agency inputs)