Rajasthan's Kota Escapes Tragedy as Roof Collapse Follows Storm, But Heatwave Persists Across State

Key facts

• A roof collapsed in Kathun, Kota, on Wednesday night after a storm with rain and hail.
• Owner Pankaj, his wife Krishna, and their two-month-old child escaped unhurt because they were outside due to a power cut.
• The family lost all household belongings and is now homeless, seeking compensation from authorities.
• Rajasthan's Barmer and Jaisalmer recorded 44°C on Thursday, with no relief from heat.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heatwave alert for western Rajasthan.
• Across India, storms and rain on Thursday caused temperatures to drop 3–5°C in several states.
• At least 17 people died in Uttar Pradesh, 5 in Bihar, and 10 in Bengaluru due to storm-related incidents over two days.
• Maharashtra's Chandrapur was the hottest place in India at 44.6°C on Thursday.

A Narrow Escape in Kota's Kathun Locality

In the Todi Mohalla area of Kathun, a residential roof gave way with a loud crash on Wednesday night, but no one was hurt. The house owner, Pankaj, told local media that the family had stepped outside just minutes earlier because a power outage had plunged the neighborhood into darkness. The blackout, caused by the severe storm, inadvertently saved their lives. Pankaj, his wife Krishna, and their two-month-old infant were in the street when the roof caved in. Had they remained indoors, the outcome could have been fatal. The collapse destroyed all household goods, leaving the family with nothing but the clothes they wore. They now seek financial aid and compensation from the district administration.

Storm Wreaks Havoc Across Kota District

The Wednesday night storm brought fierce winds, rain, and hailstorms that disrupted normal life across Kota district. Wedding tents were uprooted in several areas, and falling trees cut off electricity for hours. The power failure, though a blessing for one family, caused widespread inconvenience. By Thursday morning, the sun returned, pushing the temperature to 37°C. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for more thunderstorms and rain in the district, signaling that the volatile weather pattern may continue.

Heatwave Grips Western Rajasthan Despite Storms

While parts of northern and central India received relief from a prolonged heatwave, Rajasthan remained in its grip. Barmer and Jaisalmer recorded 44°C on Thursday, with no letup in sight. The IMD has warned of a heatwave in western Rajasthan, where temperatures are expected to stay high. The contrast is stark: in the same state, some areas face destructive storms while others bake under a relentless sun. The heatwave has persisted for over 15 days in many parts of the country, and Rajasthan's western districts are among the worst affected.

National Weather Picture: Storms Bring Relief but Also Death

Across India, Thursday brought a mix of relief and tragedy. Thunderstorms, rain, and hail caused temperatures to drop by 3–5°C in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, and Jharkhand. However, the same storms claimed lives: 17 people died in Uttar Pradesh over two days, 5 in Bihar, and 10 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from separate incidents during a storm on Wednesday night. In Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district, a glacier broke off and fell onto a road on Thursday, narrowly missing workers clearing snow. No injuries were reported. The IMD has issued orange alerts for heavy rain in West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, and Sikkim, and yellow alerts for thunderstorms in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and southern Karnataka.

Maharashtra's Chandrapur Records Highest Temperature

Maharashtra's Chandrapur district was the hottest place in the country on Thursday, with a maximum temperature of 44.6°C. The city of Mumbai, meanwhile, faced a different crisis: the forest department rescued 97 birds and animals suffering from dehydration and heatstroke. Once they recover, the animals will be released back into the wild. In Rajasthan, the heatwave shows no signs of abating. The IMD has also forecast humid weather for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, while heavy to very heavy rain is expected in Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

Outlook: More Storms and Heat Likely

The IMD's yellow alert for Kota indicates that more thunderstorms and rain are possible, offering some respite from the heat but also posing risks of further damage. For western Rajasthan, however, the heatwave alert remains in place, with no immediate relief expected. The family in Kathun now faces an uncertain future. Their home is uninhabitable, and they await government assistance. The incident underscores how extreme weather, whether heat or storms, can upend lives in an instant, and how a power cut—normally a nuisance—can become a lifeline.

The bottom line

• A family of three in Kota survived a roof collapse thanks to a storm-induced power cut that forced them outside.
• The collapse destroyed all belongings; the family is now homeless and seeking compensation.
• Rajasthan's western districts continue to experience a severe heatwave with temperatures at 44°C.
• Storms across northern and central India caused at least 32 deaths in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Bengaluru over two days.
• Maharashtra's Chandrapur was the hottest location in India at 44.6°C on Thursday.
• The IMD has issued multiple alerts: heatwave for western Rajasthan, orange for heavy rain in eastern states, and yellow for thunderstorms in central and southern regions.