On Friday, an abrupt surge of strong winds, heavy downpours and hail swept across the Moradabad division of Uttar Pradesh. The extreme weather claimed the life of a 53‑year‑old e‑rickshaw driver in Sambhal, halted traffic, knocked out electricity and left cultivators anxious about damage to their soon‑to‑be harvested paddy fields.

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 massive trunk struck Bholu, a 53‑year‑old e‑rickshaw operator, killing him instantly. The fallen tree blocked the lane until crews arrived with a JCB excavator to clear the obstruction, allowing traffic to resume.

Hailstorm Devastates Bilaspur, Rampur

Violent hailstones, driven by gusty winds and rain, battered Bilaspur in Rampur district. The icy pellets piled up on Nainital Road, giving the surface a white, snow‑like blanket. District Agriculture Officer Kuldeep Singh Rana warned that crop losses could climb between 15 % and 20 % across the district, with Bilaspur bearing the brunt of the damage.

Paddy Fields Flattened in Amroha

Winds estimated at around 30 km/h, followed by a deluge, flattened nearly‑ripe paddy across several blocks 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 reduce grain quality, complicate mechanised harvesting and cut overall yields. They have appealed for field inspections and compensation based on forthcoming loss assessments.

Daytime Darkness and Power Failures in Moradabad

The storm turned day into an eerie twilight in Moradabad on Friday afternoon. An hour of unrelenting rain left water pooling on roads and fields, while toppled electricity poles caused outages that lingered for several hours in both urban and rural zones.

Other Crops Under Threat

Beyond paddy, the untimely weather endangers sugarcane, millet, early‑season potatoes and a range of green vegetables. Dr. Ravindra Kumar of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Thakurdwara highlighted substantial damage to Basmati paddy and cautioned that mature crops are especially prone to lodging when strong winds and rain arrive close to harvest.

Temperature Dip After the Storm

Following the tempest, temperatures fell noticeably. Friday’s high dropped to 28.6 °C with a low of 23.5 °C, compared with the previous day’s 31 °C high and 22 °C low.

Authorities to Survey Agricultural Losses

Deputy Director of Agriculture Ravikant announced that teams comprising departmental officials and insurance representatives will conduct field surveys throughout the affected districts. These assessments will quantify crop losses and identify farmers eligible for relief measures.

Conclusion

The sudden storm across the Moradabad division has caused a tragic loss of life, disrupted power and traffic, and raised serious concerns for cultivators in Rampur and Amroha. With paddy nearing harvest, the combined impact of wind, rain and hail could be severe. Authorities are moving quickly to evaluate damage and determine appropriate compensation for the impacted growers.