On Friday, an abrupt surge of fierce winds, heavy downpours and hailstorm battered the Moradabad division of Uttar Pradesh. The extreme weather claimed the life of a 53‑year‑old e‑rickshaw driver in Sambhal, snarled traffic, knocked out electricity and left cultivators fearing severe damage to their crops just before the rice harvest.
E‑Rickshaw Driver Killed in Sambhal
At approximately 1:30 p.m., a towering pakad tree collapsed onto a road near Dharamshala Adda in the Asmoli police‑station jurisdiction. The falling trunk struck Bholu, a 53‑year‑old e‑rickshaw operator, causing fatal injuries. The wreckage blocked the thoroughfare until a JCB arrived to clear the debris, allowing traffic to resume shortly thereafter.
Hailstorm Devastates Bilaspur, Rampur
A violent hailstorm, accompanied by gusty winds and rain, swept through Bilaspur in Rampur district. Hailstones piled up on Nainital Road, giving the pavement a white, snow‑like blanket. District Agriculture Officer Kuldeep Singh Rana warned that crop losses could hover between 15 % and 20 % across the district, with Bilaspur bearing the brunt of the damage.
Paddy Fields Flattened in Amroha
Winds estimated at roughly 30 km/h, followed by heavy rain, leveled nearly‑ripe paddy in several parts of Amroha district. Hail was also reported in Amroha town and the villages of Didauli, Naugawan Sadat and Kailsa. With the harvest imminent, farmers fear that lodged stalks will lower grain quality, hinder mechanised harvesting and cut overall yields. They are urging officials to conduct field inspections and provide compensation based on the eventual loss assessment.
Day‑time Darkness and Power Outages in Moradabad
The storm turned the afternoon sky over Moradabad an eerie, overcast gray, creating an unusual daytime gloom. An hour of relentless rain left puddles on roads and fields, while toppled electric poles caused power cuts that lingered for several hours in both urban and rural zones.
Other Crops Under Threat
Beyond rice, the untimely weather jeopardises sugarcane, millet, early‑season potatoes and a range of green vegetables. Dr. Ravindra Kumar of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Thakurdwara noted significant damage to Basmati paddy and warned that mature crops are especially vulnerable to lodging when strong winds and rain strike close to harvest time.
Temperature Dip After the Storm
The storm ushered in cooler conditions. Friday’s maximum temperature fell to 28.6 °C with a minimum of 23.5 °C, down from the previous day’s high of 31 °C and low of 22 °C.
Officials to Assess Agricultural Damage
Deputy Director of Agriculture Ravikant announced that teams of departmental officers and insurance representatives will sweep the affected districts to conduct field surveys. The evaluations will quantify crop losses and identify farmers eligible for relief measures.
Conclusion
The sudden storm across the Moradabad division has resulted in a tragic fatality, disrupted power and traffic, and raised serious concerns for cultivators in Rampur and Amroha. As paddy crops near harvest, the combined impact of wind, rain and hail could be substantial. Authorities are moving quickly to appraise damage and determine appropriate compensation for the affected growers.
