A severe hail and wind storm in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, killed more than 100 people on May 15, 2024 [1].
The scale of the destruction highlights the vulnerability of rural infrastructure to extreme weather events, where sudden atmospheric shifts can erase entire settlements in minutes.
Reports said that the storm was characterized by strong winds and heavy hail. The wind was powerful enough to rip roofs from buildings, uproot trees, and lift people and objects into the air [1]. In some areas, the storm was so intense that it effectively erased entire villages [4].
Casualty counts vary across reports. Some sources said that more than 100 people died [1], [2], while other reports place the death toll at approximately 117 [4]. The number of injured is estimated between 50 [2] and 52 [3].
Local residents and emergency responders dealt with widespread devastation as the storm tore through the region. The combination of high-velocity winds and hail created a lethal environment for those unable to find secure shelter. While some reports mention other weather events like Cyclone Tauktae, those figures are distinct from the specific storm that struck Bareilly [5].
Infrastructure damage was extensive, with many homes completely destroyed. The storm's intensity left a trail of debris and displaced families across the surrounding areas of Uttar Pradesh. Recovery efforts focused on locating survivors and clearing the wreckage of the demolished villages.
“the storm was so intense that it effectively erased entire villages”
The event underscores the increasing frequency of high-impact, localized weather anomalies in South Asia. When storms reach the intensity required to lift humans and level villages, it indicates a failure of early warning systems to provide actionable evacuation time for rural populations.
