Sat Mar 01 22:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Unexpected Hailstorms and Heavy Rains Lash Uttar Pradesh

**Lucknow, March 1, 2024** – Uttar Pradesh experienced a sudden and dramatic shift in weather conditions, with heavy rain and hailstorms impacting 16 districts in the past 24 hours. The meteorological department has issued a rain alert for 44 districts across the state, warning of potential hail in several areas.

Areas particularly hard hit include Saharanpur, Aligarh, Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri, Budaun, Bulandshahr, Mathura, and Kasganj, where hailstones fell so heavily in some places, like Lakhimpur Kheri, that streets were covered in a thick layer of white. Aligarh saw similar scenes, with hail blanketing the roads. Strong winds, reaching speeds of 30-40 km/h, accompanied the precipitation in several areas, including Ghaziabad and Meerut.

The unexpected weather has led to a 3-4 degree Celsius drop in temperature across the state. Jhansi recorded the highest temperature at 35°C, while Ayodhya, Bulandshahr, and Lakhimpur Kheri recorded the lowest at 15°C.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributes the inclement weather to a low-pressure area over western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Pakistan. They predict similar conditions for the next 24 hours, with a new western disturbance expected to become active from March 2nd, further increasing the likelihood of rain and strong westerly winds (30-40 km/h).

Farmers express concern over the impact on ready-to-harvest crops, although light rain is considered beneficial. Heavy winds and rain, however, could cause significant damage. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Apolitical) has already written to the commissioner, demanding immediate compensation for farmers in Mathura who experienced 100% crop loss due to hail. The assessment of the damage and subsequent compensation are awaited.

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