Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Saturday urged the Yogi Adityanath government to provide extensive support to families affected by the recent devastating storms and unseasonal heavy rain that have claimed at least 111 lives across Uttar Pradesh.
Taking to social media platform X, the former chief minister said the state government must come forward with full generosity to help those who have lost everything.
‘Help families rebuild their lives’
“The State Government should come forward with all its generosity to help the people and families affected by the massive destruction of life and property caused by the recent severe storm in many parts of Uttar Pradesh,” Mayawati wrote.
She added that victims need support so that they can “gather their ruined and scattered family life and start their life again.”
The storm struck several districts on May 13, uprooting trees and electric poles, and damaging houses. Multiple videos of the thunderstorms went viral on social media, showing widespread destruction.
Criticism of central government
Along with her demand for storm relief, Mayawati launched a sharp attack on the central government over its decision to hike petrol and diesel prices by ₹3 per litre on the same day – May 16.
She said the price increase will have a detrimental effect on poor and middle-class families, farmers, and daily-wage earners.
‘Regular price hikes make life difficult’
“By continuing the continuous increase in the prices of essential commodities, especially petroleum products, the increase of ₹3 per litre in the prices of petrol and diesel by the Central Government will badly affect the lives of crores of poor and hardworking families, farmers as well as the middle class,” Mayawati said.
She warned that inflation will directly impact household budgets. “This kind of regular increase makes life difficult. The government should take necessary and meaningful steps to reduce inflation,” she added.
Storm death toll and damage
According to the Uttar Pradesh State Relief Commissioner’s office, at least 111 people lost their lives in the May 13 storm. The powerful winds and heavy rain caused massive damage to property, uprooted thousands of trees, and brought down electricity infrastructure across multiple districts.
Political significance
Mayawati’s twin attacks – demanding relief from the state government while criticising the centre on prices – come at a time when Uttar Pradesh is preparing for local body elections. Her party, the BSP, has been trying to regain lost ground among Dalits and OBCs.
By linking storm relief to broader economic pain from inflation, she is attempting to hold both the state BJP government and the central government accountable.
So far, the Yogi Adityanath government has announced compensation for the families of the deceased, but Mayawati has termed it insufficient given the scale of destruction. She has not specified a number, but demanded “extensive relief” that allows affected families to restart their lives.
