Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday extended his heartfelt condolences to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the catastrophic storm that ravaged Uttar Pradesh. In a formal message from Moscow, Putin expressed profound grief over the heavy loss of life and the large-scale destruction caused by the combination of thunderstorms, hailstorms, and lightning. He offered words of sympathy to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the dozens injured in the disaster.
The natural calamity has claimed at least 89 lives and left 53 people injured across the state, with Prayagraj reporting the highest number of fatalities at 21. Beyond the human toll, the storm caused massive infrastructure and agricultural damage, resulting in the death of 114 livestock and the destruction of nearly 87 houses. Authorities have identified kymulonimbus clouds and high-velocity winds reaching up to 100 km/h as the primary drivers of this extreme weather event.
In response to the crisis, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered immediate relief and rescue operations, mandating officials to conduct ground surveys for rapid compensation distribution. The state government has directed District Magistrates to prioritize aid for loss of lives, crops, and livestock, requiring situation reports every three hours to monitor progress. As the state struggles to recover, the international message of solidarity from Russia underscores the severity of the disaster on the global stage.
