25 killed in lightning strikes across 14 districts of Uttar Pradesh, India
At least 25 people were killed in lightning strikes across 14 districts of Uttar Pradesh, India, on June 14 and 15, 2025, during the onset of the early monsoon season.
Image credit: DerTobiSturmjagd
At least 25 people were killed in lightning strikes across 14 districts of Uttar Pradesh, India, on June 14 and 15, 2025, coinciding with the arrival of early monsoon activity in the region. The fatalities include eight women and seven children.
Districts affected include Prayagraj, Jaunpur, Gorakhpur, Basti, Bareilly, Bijnor, Kanpur Dehat, Kushinagar, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Sambhal, Lalitpur, Jhansi, Jalaun, and Lucknow. Several of the victims were reported to be farmers working in the fields, or children caught outdoors during storms.
In Prayagraj’s Sonbarsa village, a lightning strike killed a family of four inside their hut, two parents and their daughters aged 2 and 3. In Jaunpur, three boys aged between 10 and 12 died while picking mangoes from an orchard. A farmer was also killed in a separate incident in the same district.
Further casualties were reported in Kushinagar, where two individuals died while working in agricultural fields. Other isolated deaths occurred in Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, and Shahjahanpur. Injuries were also reported in some districts, though precise figures have not been released by state authorities.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences and directed officials to provide ex-gratia compensation of ₹300 000 (USD 3 600) to the families of each deceased victim. The government also ordered medical assistance, housing support for orphaned children, scholarship assistance, and damage assessments for crops and property affected by the storm systems.
The lightning activity occurred during the onset of the southwest monsoon over northern India, which typically begins in mid to late June. Uttar Pradesh often experiences an increase in thunderstorm and lightning events during this transition period, driven by high surface temperatures and moisture influx from the Bay of Bengal.
Other Indian states also reported lightning-related casualties over the same period, including Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh, bringing the nationwide death toll to at least 25.
India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences continues to issue alerts through the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), warning of increased lightning risk during early monsoon onset. Citizens are advised to avoid open fields and shelter indoors during thunderstorms.
References:
1 25 killed in lightning strikes in UP, CM Yogi orders relief – Hindustan Times – June 16, 2025
2 Lightning Strikes Kill 25 in Uttar Pradesh; CM Orders Relief Measures – The Daily Guardian – June 16, 2025
Reet is a science journalist and researcher with a keen focus on extreme weather, space phenomena, and climate-related issues. With a strong foundation in astronomy and a history of environmental activism, she approaches every story with a sharp scientific lens and a deep sense of purpose. Driven by a lifelong love for writing, and a curiosity about the universe, Reet brings urgency and insight to some of the most important scientific developments of our time.
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