Fri Apr 18 11:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Uttar Pradesh Hit by Severe Storms; 13 Dead, More Rain Predicted
**Lucknow, India** – Uttar Pradesh (UP) experienced sudden and severe weather changes on Thursday evening, resulting in thunderstorms and rain across several districts, including Lucknow. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a three-day alert for rain and thunderstorms, warning of light to moderate rain and strong winds in western UP districts like Agra, Mathura, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Saharanpur. Eastern UP districts, including Lucknow, Barabanki, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Sitapur, Amethi, Ayodhya, Basti, Bahraich, and Shravasti, are expected to see thunderstorms and strong winds.
The unexpected storms claimed the lives of 13 people, including seven women, with many more injured. Numerous trees were uprooted, and power lines were downed across the state. In Gorakhpur and Basti, despite sunny skies earlier in the day, the evening brought devastation. Specific incidents included a wall collapse in Deoria killing one woman, and lightning strikes in Basti claiming another life. Five fatalities, including a six-year-old child, were reported in Barabanki due to collapsing tin sheds and trees. Further deaths were reported in Amethi and Ayodhya.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials in affected districts to conduct relief operations with utmost urgency. He has directed them to assess the damage, provide immediate relief to those affected, ensure medical treatment for the injured, and submit reports on crop damage to the government. Efforts are underway to clear waterlogged areas. The IMD forecasts mostly clear skies for Lucknow in the coming days, with a high of 38°C and a low of 25°C, but anticipates a decrease in temperatures in subsequent days, offering some relief from the heat.
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