LUCKNOW: The sudden change in weather in Uttar Pradesh, marked by thunderstorms and rainfall, has claimed 13 lives in storm-related incidents. Strong winds caused extensive damage, uprooting trees and power poles and knocking down several mud houses.
While rain and thunderstorms brought relief from the ongoing heat wave and scorching temperatures, seven of the dead were from Sultanpuri. Ayodhya and Amethi reported two deaths each, while Prayagraj and Ghazipur recorded one fatality each. At least 21 people were injured in various incidents.
Wind speed reached 100 km/h in Varanasi and 87 km/h in Ayodhya during the storm. Early on Thursday, heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning lashed cities including Kanpur, Agra, Mathura and Unnao, while Lucknow witnessed intermittent rain and cool winds.
The Meteorological Department has issued rain alerts for 68 districts across the state, warning of lightning and gusty winds. The weather is expected to be unstable in the next five days.
On Wednesday, more than 30 districts, including Prayagraj and Varanasi, experienced thunderstorms and rain, while hailstorms were reported in at least 10 districts like Lucknow, Barabanki, Unnao, Amethi, Rae Bareli and Jaunpur.
Despite the change in weather, Banda in Bundelkhand region remained the hottest district, recording a maximum temperature of 45.8°C.
According to Atul Kumar Singh, senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Center in Lucknow, the change in weather is due to a cyclonic system over northern Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir. He added that rainfall activity is likely to continue in the first week of May, bringing relief from the heat, but also possible storms, lightning and hail.
