Ranchi, April 19 : A powerful hailstorm accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds struck Jharkhand’s capital, Ranchi, on Friday afternoon, causing widespread damage to property and disrupting normal life for several hours, officials and local residents said.
The storm, which began around 2 PM, lasted for nearly three hours and impacted not only urban areas like Harmu, Kokar, and Morhabadi but also surrounding villages including Hundru, Hethu, Hara Tand, and Chhota Ghaghra.
Local authorities reported significant damage to private vehicles and residential structures. “Due to the storm, trees fell in many areas of the city. Due to the falling of trees and hailstorm, car windows also broke,” said a city official.
In several areas, hailstones shattered the windows of parked cars, while the rooftops of homes—particularly those made of asbestos or tile—suffered severe damage. A large tree fell on the public toilet facility near Bada Talab, damaging its roof and wall. It was removed by the Municipal Corporation later in the evening.
Waterlogging was reported on major stretches including the road from Bariatu to RIMS, in front of Jaipal Singh Stadium, near Seva Sadan, and around the Daily Market area, hampering vehicular movement and pedestrian access.
Despite the destruction, the storm also sparked moments of joy among residents. “People were seen having fun by collecting hailstones on the roofs of their houses and on the road,” a witness said. Hockey players practicing at the Morhabadi Stadium were also seen enjoying the rare weather, with many residents sharing images and videos of the hailstones on social media.
Meteorological officials have yet to issue a formal advisory, but unseasonal weather patterns have been observed frequently in the region in recent weeks.
