Patna: Torrential rain and lightning have wreaked havoc across Bihar, claiming at least 16 lives in 10 districts and throwing daily life into disarray. Roads, railway tracks, and farmlands in many parts of the state remain inundated, with authorities warning of more thunderstorms in the coming days.
According to reports from the Disaster Management Department, three deaths each were reported in Jehanabad and Muzaffarpur, two each in Bhojpur and West Champaran, and one each in Vaishali, Gopalganj, Nalanda, Kishanganj, Madhepura, and Khagaria.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. “The deaths due to lightning in the state are extremely saddening,” he said. “People are urged to stay indoors during bad weather and follow the instructions issued by the Disaster Management Department.”
In Jehanabad, three people were killed and over a dozen injured when lightning struck in different villages on Saturday evening. Two men sheltering under a tree in Uttarapatti village died instantly, while a woman lost her life in nearby Bigha.
In Bettiah, tragedy struck when a grandmother and her granddaughter were killed as lightning hit their hut in Parsa village under Majhauliya block. A cow tied nearby was also electrocuted. The victims were identified as 60-year-old Sudama Devi and her 10-year-old granddaughter Pinky Kumari.
Muzaffarpur witnessed severe damage during a thunderstorm. A 14-year-old boy, Mohammad Faizal, was electrocuted when a transformer collapsed in Chainpur Bangra village. Two farmers tending to their fields in Aurai were also struck and killed by lightning.
In Vaishali district, a 48-year-old woman, Malti Devi, was crushed to death when a tree fell during a storm in Koyla Mohan village, while three others were seriously injured. In Gopalganj, a labourer identified as Salim Ansari was killed while setting up tents for security personnel amid heavy rain.
Kishanganj also reported the death of Tanveer Alam, a young man struck by lightning while collecting fodder. In Nalanda, 13-year-old Ankit Kumar was killed while grazing buffaloes, while in Khagaria, 15-year-old Manchan Kumari died while returning home from the fields.
In Bhojpur, lightning killed a shepherd, 30-year-old Ranjan Pal, and burned 20 of his sheep. Meanwhile, in Madhepura, 65-year-old Sonia Devi died after a toilet wall collapsed during a storm, which also damaged dozens of homes and injured more than 40 people.
The Met Department has forecast continued rainfall and thunderstorms over the next 48 hours, urging residents to remain cautious. Disaster response teams are on standby across vulnerable districts as the state continues to battle heavy rain and lightning strikes.
