Death toll mounts to 54 as powerful storm, heavy rain sweep through UP districts

Prayagraj reported the highest toll with 16 deaths, followed by Bhadohi (15) and Mirzapur (10), as storm fatalities rose across seven districts in Uttar Pradesh.

In Short

• Prayagraj records highest fatalities at 16 as severe storm uproots trees, poles
• Power, mobile networks, road movement disrupted in several affected districts
• Rescue and restoration teams continue operations as damage assessment progresses

At least 54 people have died across multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh after a powerful storm accompanied by heavy rain, dust and strong winds caused widespread destruction on Wednesday evening, officials said. The storm uprooted trees, damaged houses, disrupted traffic movement and affected electricity and communication networks in several areas, with authorities continuing relief and restoration work.

According to official district-wise figures, the death toll has risen overnight from 27 to 54. The highest number of fatalities was reported from Prayagraj, where 16 people died, followed by Bhadohi with 15 deaths and Mirzapur with 10 deaths.

Fatehpur reported nine deaths, while one person each died in Kanpur Dehat and Kaushambi. Two people were killed in Hardoi.

In Prayagraj, at least 16 people died after a severe dust storm and strong winds lashed several parts of the district.

Officials said seven people died in Handia, four in Phulpur, three in Soraon and two in Meja. The storm caused extensive damage in Handia, Soraon, Phulpur and Meja areas.

Strong winds uprooted several large trees across Prayagraj, while old trees collapsed on roads amid the dust storm, disrupting traffic movement.

Municipal Corporation Junior Engineer Vinod Patel said authorities received reports of fallen trees from areas including Patthar Girjaghar, Ashok Nagar, Kachahari Road and Mahatma Gandhi Marg. A dilapidated tree also collapsed in the Kalyani Devi locality.

The storm disrupted electricity supply in several localities of Prayagraj. Municipal Corporation teams reached affected areas and started clearing fallen trees from roads. Officials said traffic movement would be restored soon.

The sudden dust storm also caused damage at the Triveni Sangam area, where huts erected by pilgrimage priests were uprooted and collapsed.

Officials described the destruction as one of the biggest storm-related incidents reported in the area so far, while administrative teams continued assessing the damage and collecting casualty figures.

In Bhadohi district, the toll rose to 15 deaths, with eight others injured, in incidents caused by the severe storm. District Magistrate confirmed the updated death toll.

Tin sheds and solar panels were blown away due to strong winds, while falling walls crushed cars and motorcycles at multiple locations.

Officials said the weather changed suddenly around 5 pm on Wednesday, bringing strong dust storms and dark clouds that plunged the district into darkness during daytime.

Residents stayed indoors as the intensity of the storm made movement dangerous for people caught outside.

In one of the worst incidents, four people, including a woman and her three daughters, died in Khargasenpur village under Suriyawan police station area after a tree fell on a house during the storm.

Police and administrative teams continued relief and rescue operations in affected areas.

Additional District Magistrate Kunwar Virendra Kumar Maurya said restoration and rescue work faced difficulties because mobile networks were disrupted due to the storm.

He said sub-divisional magistrates, tehsildars, district officials and police teams were carrying out inspections and relief work across all three tehsils of the district.

Earlier, five people, including two minor girls, were reported dead in separate storm-related incidents in Budaun, while five others sustained injuries.

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

The girls, along with two women identified as Kallo and Neha, had taken shelter in the hut after strong winds began. The women suffered serious injuries.

In another incident in Tark Paroli village under Faizganj Behta police station area, a woman identified as Laxmi (40) died after a tree fell on a tubewell room where several people had taken shelter from the storm.

The roof of the structure collapsed, injuring three others, including a woman named Geeta, whose condition remained critical.

Near Bilsi Road in Bisoli area, truck driver Yogesh (32) died after a eucalyptus tree uprooted and fell on his vehicle.

Another youth, Anshul Sharma (22), a resident of Sahukara locality in Bisoli, died after a tree fell on him while he was on his way to deliver food to his father during the storm.

Officials said the casualty figures may rise further as assessment continues in affected districts, while rescue teams remain deployed to restore electricity, communication and road connectivity in the worst-hit areas.

- Ends
With PTI inputs.