Sudden dust storms, lightning and strong winds devastate Uttar Pradesh as rescue operations continue
At least 104 people have been killed and more than 50 others injured after severe dust storms, lightning strikes, and heavy rain swept through India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Thursday.
The extreme weather caused widespread destruction, with strong winds damaging homes, uprooting trees, and bringing down structures across multiple districts.
According to Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner Harikesh Bhaskar Yashod, most deaths were caused by collapsing buildings, falling tree branches, and uprooted trees during the sudden storm.
“The deaths have been caused due to the collapsing of structures, falling of tree branches and uprooting of trees,” he said.
Residents reported that the weather changed abruptly on Wednesday evening, with dust clouds sweeping across several areas and reducing visibility sharply.
People were forced to take shelter under trees and flyovers as high-speed winds ripped through towns, tearing down hoardings, signboards, and temporary shelters. Vehicles were damaged as trees fell across roads, blocking key transport routes in multiple districts.
Rescue teams have been working through debris to reach those trapped under collapsed structures, while emergency services continue relief operations across the affected regions.
Authorities said the district administration has been instructed to prioritize rescue operations, provide medical assistance to the injured, and restore blocked roads as quickly as possible.
Officials added that monitoring is being carried out through an integrated control and command center to coordinate ongoing relief efforts and assess further risks as weather conditions stabilize.
Disasters of this scale are not uncommon in the region during seasonal weather transitions, when intense heat and moisture interact to produce sudden thunderstorms and dust storms.