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A powerful storm system that swept across Uttar Pradesh last week has left at least 117 people dead, turning one of north India’s routine pre-monsoon weather events into one of the state’s deadliest storms in recent years. The thunderstorms brought violent winds, heavy rain, hail and lightning across more than two dozen districts, uprooting trees, flattening homes and tearing apart temporary structures. But beyond the immediate destruction, scientists say the storm also carried signs of a warming atmosphere. Meteorologists and climate researchers warn that rising temperatures are increasing the energy available for extreme weather events, making storms more intense, less predictable and potentially more dangerous for densely populated regions like the Indo Gangetic plains.
Cyclone-like winds turned a seasonal storm into a disaster
Storms are common across northern India between March and June, before the arrival of the monsoon. Locally known as “Andhi,” these storms often bring dust, lightning and short bursts of rain. But this week’s storm was unusually destructive. According to the India Meteorological Department, wind speeds touched nearly 130 kmph in parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Prayagraj and Bareilly. Chandauli recorded gusts of 113 kmph, while Budaun, Mirzapur and Rampur also saw winds crossing 100 kmph.
The human toll mounted quickly. Official figures from the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner’s office show at least 117 deaths, with Prayagraj emerging as the worst-affected district, followed by Mirzapur and Sant Ravidas Nagar. More than 79 people were injured, around 330 houses were damaged, and at least 177 animals were killed during the storm. Collapsing walls caused most deaths, uprooted trees, flying debris and lightning strikes.
Visuals from the storm captured the scale of the winds. In Bareilly, a man clinging to a tin roof was swept high into the air during a violent gust before crashing to the ground several metres away. Across several districts, electricity poles snapped, fallen trees, and rescue teams blocked roads had to clear debris through the night.
Scientists say warmer conditions are intensifying storms
Meteorologists say the storm formed through a combination of intense surface heating, moisture intrusion and atmospheric instability triggered by a western disturbance moving across north India. But researchers increasingly believe climate change is amplifying such weather systems by creating hotter surface conditions and increasing the amount of energy available in the atmosphere.
April and May temperatures across large parts of north India have remained well above average in recent years. Warmer land surfaces can strengthen vertical air movement, helping thunderstorms grow more explosively once moisture and wind conditions align. Scientists say this can lead to stronger downdrafts, more violent winds and sudden shifts from extreme heat to destructive storms. “Warmer atmosphere holds more moisture which becomes like a cycle that we now find ourselves in. This has increased the global average temperature by around 1.2 C in the last 180 years or so,” said Umesh Chandra Mohanty, emeritus professor at the School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences, IIT Bhubaneswar.
Researchers have also observed an increase in short-duration but high-impact weather events across India, including cloudbursts, lightning outbreaks and severe thunderstorms. These systems often develop rapidly, leaving little time for warnings or evacuation, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where housing infrastructure is more vulnerable.
Rising risks for India’s most populated regions
The storm has once again exposed how vulnerable large parts of northern India remain to extreme weather. Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state, with dense settlements, ageing infrastructure and millions of people dependent on informal or fragile housing structures that are highly exposed to high wind events.
Climate researchers say the growing overlap between rising heat and severe storms could become a defining feature of India’s pre-monsoon season. Heatwaves dry out soils and increase surface temperatures, while warming air can hold more moisture, creating conditions that favour sudden and intense storms. In many parts of the country, this means communities are increasingly swinging between dangerous heat and destructive rainfall within short periods.
The India Meteorological Department has warned that thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds could continue in parts of Uttar Pradesh over the coming days. Officials have announced compensation of ₹4 lakh for families of those killed in the storm, while relief and restoration work continue across affected districts.
References:
https://internal.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/allindianew.pdf
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