Between Saturday night and Sunday morning, lightning strikes killed at least 25 people across 14 districts in Uttar Pradesh, officials confirmed. According to the relief commissioner’s office, the highest number of deaths occurred in Prayagraj (5), followed by Jaunpur (4). Two deaths each were reported from Lalitpur, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, and Bijnor. One fatality each was recorded in Lucknow, Kanpur Dehat, Kushinagar, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Sambhal, Jhansi, and Jalaun.
Chief Minister Orders Immediate Relief
On Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed local officials to start relief efforts without delay. He asked district administrators to visit the affected areas and extend financial help to the families of the deceased and injured. “The injured should be given proper treatment,” he said. Furthermore, Yogi instructed officials to survey the damaged crops and report back to the government for follow-up action.
Tragedy in Prayagraj: Families Wiped Out
In Prayagraj district, five people, including a couple and their two young daughters, died in Sonbarsa village under Bara police station limits. According to officials, “Virendra Banvasi, 35, and his wife Parvati, 32, were sleeping in their hut with two daughters Radha, 3, and Karishma, 2, when lightning struck. All four died on the spot.” Their two older daughters, who were with their grandparents that night, survived.
In another tragic case, a man named Akshay Kumar, 29, died in Kalyanpur village under Shankergarh police limits. His wife Kusum, 27, sustained serious burns from the lightning.
Officials Visit Affected Families
Bara SDM Sandeep Tiwari, along with tehsildar Ganesh Kumar and other officers, visited Sonbarsa and Kalyanpur villages. Tiwari announced that each family of the deceased would receive ₹3 lakh from the Natural Disaster Fund. “The deceased couple’s two daughters will be provided scholarships,” he said. He also mentioned that the family in Sonbarsa would be given a new house.
Lightning Kills Across Eastern UP
Elsewhere, four people died in Bansi town in Siddharthnagar. Two more were killed in Bhar Pahi village near Sahjanwa in Gorakhpur, and a woman in Hata town in Kushinagar also lost her life.
In Sahjanwa, lightning struck three children — Khushbu (12), Jyoti (11), and their cousin Ajay (10). Khushbu died immediately, while the other two were taken to BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur.
Tara Devi, 30, from Kushinagar, was struck by lightning while returning from the fields. She suffered burns.
In Siddharthnagar, four people — Shah Jamal (27), Kallu alias Rizwan (33), Sateesh Yadav (27), and Irshad Ahmad (25) — died. Irshad’s friend Mahboob was seriously injured.
Storm Devastates Jaunpur
Five people died in Jaunpur in three separate incidents. In Kashidaspur village, two brothers — Ansh (12) and Ashu (10) — and their neighbor Ayush (12) died when lightning hit. In Badalpur Kotwali area, 14-year-old Apa died in Khajuran village. Another victim, Brijesh (25), was killed in Karnehua village. Meanwhile, a storm uprooted many trees and electric poles in Chandwak, leaving the area in darkness.