Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami diverted his helicopter from Haldwani to Bazpur on Oct. 9, 2026, to inspect the damage wrought by a sudden hailstorm that had battered Haridwar and its outskirts. The storm, which spawned fist‑sized hailstones, shattered windows on cars and homes and left dozens of farmers scrambling to assess crop losses.
While flying over Bazpur, Dhami met with local farmers, listened to their accounts of ruined wheat and millet, and assured them that the state would provide assistance. He instructed officials to conduct a detailed survey of the damage within 48 hours, emphasizing that relief funds would be disbursed in accordance with state guidelines.
The Meteorological Department had earlier issued a yellow alert for heavy rain in Dehradun, Nainital and Pithoragarh, warning that temperatures would drop sharply. Yet the hailstorm’s intensity, far beyond typical regional events, caused widespread panic and property damage, as videos circulating on social media showed shattered glass and flooded streets.
Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat urged the government to expedite the survey, calling the incident a stark reminder of climate volatility. He demanded that compensations be framed swiftly for those who suffered major crop and infrastructural losses.
Dhami’s office will release a comprehensive damage report by Friday, and a relief package is slated for approval at the next cabinet meeting. Farmers in Bazpur and neighboring villages are awaiting the promised support while their fields lie scarred beneath a clear sky.