Unseasonal rainfall, accompanied by strong winds and widespread hailstorms, has unleashed havoc across Uttar Pradesh, leaving a trail of damaged crops, distressed farmers, and disrupted daily life. Even
as parts of the state witnessed brief respite on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the relief may be short-lived, with another spell of turbulent weather expected from April 11.
Over the past 24 hours, nearly 30 districts in the state recorded rainfall, with an average precipitation of 2.8 mm—almost 200% above the normal for this period. Gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 60 kmph, coupled with hailstorms in several regions, have worsened the impact, particularly in agrarian belts.
In districts like Hardoi and Saharanpur, hailstones blanketed fields and roads, creating a surreal white sheet but leaving behind devastation for farmers. In Hardoi’s Madhoganj area, farmer Satiram broke down while surveying his flattened wheat crop. “What do we do now? Everything is destroyed,” he said, holding soaked stalks in his hands—an image that captures the scale of distress in rural Uttar Pradesh.
Similar scenes have been reported from Bareilly, Meerut, and parts of western Uttar Pradesh, where hailstorms struck late Wednesday evening. In Mathura, while the weather cleared briefly on Thursday morning, light fog lingered in rural pockets, a reminder of the unusual weather pattern persisting over the region. Agra and adjoining districts remained under a cloud cover, while parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh saw intermittent sunshine.
According to Lucknow-based meteorologist Atul Singh, the current spell is linked to an active western disturbance that is gradually weakening. “The present western disturbance will lose its effect by Thursday. However, a fresh system is expected to become active from April 11, which could once again trigger rain, strong winds, and a drop in temperatures by 6 to 8 degrees Celsius,” he said.
The shifting weather has also led to temperature fluctuations. Banda recorded the highest temperature in the state at 38.6°C, even as other regions experienced cooler conditions due to cloud cover and rain.
The impact on agriculture has been severe, particularly as the untimely rain coincides with the harvesting season of wheat and other rabi crops. Farmers in several districts have resorted to covering their produce with tarpaulin in a desperate attempt to prevent further losses. In Varanasi, visuals showed farmers scrambling to shield harvested wheat from rainwater.
District administrations across affected regions have been put on alert. A senior official in Hardoi district administration said, “We have initiated a rapid assessment of crop damage. Revenue teams have been deployed at the village level, and a detailed report will be submitted within 24 hours to ensure timely compensation for affected farmers.”
Similarly, an official from the Meerut administration stated, “Instructions have been issued to all tehsil-level officers to conduct field inspections. We are prioritising areas hit by hailstorms to evaluate the extent of loss and expedite relief measures.”
The state government has also stepped in, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directing officials to carry out immediate surveys and ensure that compensation reaches farmers without delay.
“The safety and welfare of farmers is our top priority. Officials have been directed to assess the damage within 24 hours and ensure that relief reaches affected farmers at the earliest. Any form of negligence will not be tolerated,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
Weather officials have outlined a mixed forecast for the coming days. April 10 is expected to bring relatively clear skies across eastern and western Uttar Pradesh, with a slight rise in temperatures by 2–3 degrees Celsius. However, conditions are likely to deteriorate again from April 11, as a new western disturbance becomes active. This could result in widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across the state. By April 12, most districts are expected to remain under cloud cover, with the possibility of heavy rainfall in isolated areas.
