A terrifying viral video from Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district has become the face of the massive storm disaster that has left at least 104 people dead across the state in the last 24 hours. It shows a man being flung into the air while trying to hold on to a tin shed during violent winds.
The man has been identified as Nanhe Ansari, 50, from Bareilly’s Bhamora area, who survived the impact with a fracture in his left hand and leg. But the same storm killed a 12-year-old girl and a 76-year-old woman under the same police circle. The girl was crushed under a falling tree, and the woman died after wooden blocks stacked on a roof collapsed on her.
Who is the viral ‘flying man’ and what happened in Bareilly?
According to the police, Nanhe was holding a pole supporting a temporary marriage structure when fierce winds uprooted the tin shed and hurled him several feet into the air before he crashed to the ground. His flight was captured by a local who was making a video of the storm.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Pawan Kumar Singh, Station House Officer, Bhamora police station, where the incident took place, informed that as Nanhe held onto the pole of a tin shade tightly, he was lifted and then thrown away by the strong winds that uprooted the shade.
According to Singh, Nanhe suffered fractures in his leg and hand but is stable. “He was admitted to hospital and later discharged,” said Singh. Locals said that Nanhe remains in shock.
The viral clip has emerged as one of the starkest visuals from the deadly weather system that battered Uttar Pradesh with lightning, heavy rain, hailstorm and unusually powerful winds.
Which are the worst-hit districts?
According to the latest figures, the disaster has so far left 104 dead, 52 injured, 130 animals killed, and 98 houses damaged across the state. The worst-hit district was Prayagraj, which reported 21 deaths, followed by Mirzapur (19), Sant Ravidas Nagar-Bhadohi (14), Fatehpur (11), and Bareilly (2). Officials said most deaths and injuries were caused by falling trees, collapsing structures, flying objects and wall or roof collapses triggered by the high-speed storm.
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Unusually high-speed storm
Atul Kumar Singh, a senior scientist with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), told The Indian Express that storm activity is common during the season, but “speed-wise, this event was unusually intense”. He said the storm’s intensity had crossed 100 kmph in certain areas.
According to the IMD, the severe weather developed due to an interaction between a cyclonic circulation over the northwestern part of Uttar Pradesh in the lower atmosphere, easterly winds coming from southern Rajasthan, and westerly winds in the middle troposphere.
In an official note, the IMD said isolated places witnessed storm winds exceeding 100 kmph, while several areas experienced gusts of 60-70 kmph, leading to large-scale destruction.
The powerful winds uprooted trees, damaged houses, collapsed temporary structures, and snapped power lines in several districts, causing panic in rural and urban areas alike.
CM announces Rs 4 lakh aid
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday directed immediate relief and compensation for affected families, stressing that “no negligence” in relief work would be tolerated.
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Under the relief measures announced by the state government, families of the deceased will receive an immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh. Officials have also been directed to expedite compensation for crop loss, livestock deaths and other damages caused by the disaster.
Relief Commissioner Dr Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod reviewed the situation through video conferencing with District Magistrates and Additional District Magistrates of affected districts. Officials were instructed to personally meet the affected families and ensure timely assistance.
The government said farmers suffering crop losses exceeding 33 per cent will be eligible for compensation. Assistance has been fixed at Rs 8,500 per hectare for rain-fed areas, Rs 17,000 per hectare for assured irrigated land and Rs 22,500 per hectare for perennial crops and agroforestry, for up to two hectares of landholding.
The government has also announced compensation for livestock loss.
