Lightning strikes killed at least 25 people in 14 districts of Uttar Pradesh between Saturday night and Sunday morning. The state’s relief commissioner’s office confirmed these deaths and shared detailed district-wise data.
District-Wise Deaths Reported
Prayagraj recorded the most deaths with five people killed. Jaunpur followed with four. Meanwhile, Lalitpur, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, and Bijnor each reported two deaths. One death occurred in each of these districts: Lucknow, Kanpur Dehat, Kushinagar, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Sambhal, Jhansi, and Jalaun.
CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Relief and Compensation
Soon after the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued strict instructions to officials. He told them to begin immediate relief work in the storm-affected areas.
He also directed district officers to visit the villages, meet the victims’ families, and assess all damages. “The injured should be given proper treatment,” he said.
Moreover, the Chief Minister asked authorities to inspect farmland loss and submit damage reports to the state government so necessary action can follow.
Families Wiped Out in Prayagraj
The tragedy struck hardest in Prayagraj and neighboring areas. Officials reported 17 deaths and six injuries in villages across Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Basti, and Jaunpur.
One of the worst-hit villages was Sonbarsa in Prayagraj. There, lightning killed a couple and their two small daughters. According to officials, 35-year-old Virendra Banvasi and his wife Parvati, 32, were asleep in their hut with daughters Radha (3) and Karishma (2) when lightning struck. All four died instantly. Their elder daughters, Son Kumari (10) and Anchal (8), survived because they were staying with their grandparents that night.
In a separate case in Kalyanpur village, lightning killed Akshay Kumar, 29, on the spot. His wife, Kusum (27), received serious burns.
Officials Visit Affected Villages and Offer Help
Bara SDM Sandeep Tiwari, along with tehsildar Ganesh Kumar and other revenue officers, visited Sonbarsa and Kalyanpur to meet the victims’ families.
Tiwari assured the families that “The families of the deceased will be given ₹3 lakh each from the Natural Disaster Fund.” He further said, “The deceased couple’s two daughters will be provided scholarships,” and added that the Sonbarsa family would also receive a house.
More Lives Lost in Other Parts of the State
The lightning also caused several deaths in other districts. In Bansi town (Siddharthnagar), four people were killed. In Bhar Pahi village near Gorakhpur, three children were struck. Khushbu (12) died on the spot, while Jyoti (11) and Ajay (10) were seriously hurt and taken to BRD Medical College.
In Kushinagar, lightning injured 30-year-old Tara Devi while she was returning from her farm.
Siddharthnagar witnessed more deaths. Cloth trader Shah Jamal (27) and Kallu alias Rizwan (33) were killed. Two others—vegetable vendor Sateesh Yadav (27) and Irshad Ahmad (25)—also died. Irshad’s friend Mahboob was badly burnt.
Jaunpur Sees Five Deaths in Separate Incidents
In Jaunpur district, lightning killed five people in three different places: Kashidaspur, Kahjura, and Kanehra. The dead included two brothersAnsh (12) and Ashu (10)—and their neighbor Ayush (12), all from Kashidaspur.
A 14-year-old girl named Apa died in Khajuran village under Badalpur police limits, while 25-year-old Brijesh from Karnehua village also lost his life.
Meanwhile, a powerful storm hit Chandwak, uprooting trees and electricity poles. This plunged the area into darkness.
