At least 111 people have been killed in severe storms that struck India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state, according to government officials. The death toll was revised upward as more districts reported casualties following Wednesday’s extreme weather.
The storms brought strong winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning across several parts of the densely populated state. Authorities said the intense weather uprooted trees, damaged buildings, and disrupted road networks in multiple districts.
Officials reported that tin roofs were torn from homes and debris blocked key routes, making rescue and relief efforts difficult in affected areas.
Uttar Pradesh, home to more than 240 million people, regularly experiences violent pre-monsoon storms. Lightning strikes are also a frequent cause of fatalities in the region.
The state relief department initially reported 89 deaths, along with dozens of injuries and damage to over 200 houses. The figure was later updated to 111 as additional reports came in from remote areas.
Some media outlets have reported an even higher toll, though those figures have not been independently confirmed.
Eyewitness accounts describe powerful gusts of wind that caused widespread destruction within minutes. In one incident, a labourer said he was lifted into the air while trying to secure a tin roof before being thrown several dozen feet away. He survived the fall and is currently recovering in hospital.
Authorities have begun distributing financial assistance to affected families and assessing damage across the worst-hit districts.
Meteorological experts say such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, linking the trend to changing climate conditions and rising temperatures.
The storms were part of a broader pattern of pre-monsoon atmospheric instability, which often triggers thunderstorms across northern India during this time of year.
