Weather Report: Western Disturbance wreaks havoc in Uttar Pradesh; several killed, Alert Issued for 50 District

New Delhi: The Western Disturbance passing through UP stalled instead of moving forward. Consequently, by evening, a thick layer of clouds had gathered over several districts. After wreaking havoc on Saturday, storms and rain unleashed their fury once again on Sunday. Nine people lost their lives in various districts due to accidents caused by the storms and rain. Crops also suffered significant damage.

How much damage was caused?

Power supply was disrupted as trees fell onto overhead wires, and rail and air operations were also affected. The Meteorological Headquarters located in Amausi has issued an alert for 50 districts—including Lucknow—warning of the possibility of gusty winds accompanied by showers and lightning strikes. An 'Orange Alert' for hailstorms remains in effect for Kanpur City and Kanpur Dehat until Monday morning.

Over the past 24 hours, nine people have lost their lives in rain-related accidents across various parts of the state, while several others have sustained injuries. In the Bundelkhand region, two people died due to lightning strikes in Lalitpur and Hamirpur, while one person succumbed to injuries after a tree fell on them in Orai.

In Mainpuri (Braj region), a farmer died after a tree fell on him, while in Firozabad, a man lost his life after falling from a roof during a storm. In Raebareli, two people were killed after being struck by trees and utility poles toppled by strong winds; meanwhile, in Siddharthnagar, a mother and son died—and ten others were injured—when a Bolero, rendered uncontrollable by the storm, plunged into a canal near the Jharav Bridge. In Lakhimpur Kheri, four people sustained serious injuries after a tree fell on a car and a poultry farm collapsed.

Were Trains Affected?

Due to adverse weather conditions, 98 trains remained stranded in Kanpur, and 112 trains ran hours behind schedule. Approximately 3,200 passengers cancelled their tickets. In Mandhana, a power outage forced the Kasganj Express to turn back mid-journey—a first in 30 years. The Farrukhabad route remained suspended for approximately seven and a half hours.

Were crops damaged?

Hailstorms across Western UP—including Meerut, Hapur, Muzaffarnagar, and Bulandshahr—have inflicted heavy damage upon the ripened wheat crop. There is a fear that the harvested crops, currently lying in the fields, may turn black due to exposure to moisture. In Etah, Mainpuri, and Firozabad, showers of hail have devastated both wheat and mustard crops. Turning to the Purvanchal region, storms in the Gorakhpur-Basti division have damaged the mango crop, leaving harvested produce scattered across the fields.

The sheer intensity of the storms can be gauged by the fact that in Mainpuri alone, 555 electricity poles toppled over in the last three days, resulting in a loss of ₹45 lakh for the department. In Gorakhpur and Siddharthnagar, lightning strikes on mobile towers caused a complete loss of network connectivity. In rural areas, falling trees and collapsing tin sheds have caused the power supply infrastructure to crumble completely.

Where was the Heaviest Rainfall Recorded?

Over the past 24 hours, Etawah received 30 millimeters of rainfall. As a result of the rain, Etawah's maximum temperature dropped by 4.9 degrees below normal, settling at 31.2°C. Meanwhile, Aligarh recorded 6.4 mm of rainfall, causing the mercury there to dip 4.1 degrees below the seasonal average. A temperature drop of 5.3 degrees was also recorded in Meerut. According to the Meteorological Department, hailstorms are possible in Kanpur over the next 24 hours. Gusty winds, blowing at speeds of 40–50 km/h, are forecast for more than 20 districts—including Prayagraj, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Fatehpur, and Auraiya. Warnings regarding thunderstorms accompanied by lightning strikes have been issued for several districts, including Lucknow, Ayodhya, Meerut, Moradabad, Bareilly, and Saharanpur. On Sunday, the mercury hovered around 31.5°C in Meerut and Najibabad—the lowest temperatures recorded across the state.

According to the Meteorological Department, the influence of the current Western Disturbance is expected to subside by Monday afternoon. According to the Regional Director, the cyclonic circulation hovering over Pakistan is now exerting its influence on the lower troposphere over Uttar Pradesh. The weather is expected to stabilize slightly starting the evening of April 5; however, a fresh Western Disturbance will arrive on April 7, ensuring that this game of hide-and-seek with the weather continues until April 9.