Patna: Severe weather swept across Bihar on Friday, leaving two people dead and prompting authorities to issue a red alert across 15 districts, as storms, heavy rain and hail disrupted daily life in several regions.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Patna, strong winds, lightning and rainfall were reported in multiple districts, including Gaya, Sasaram and Aurangabad, while hailstorms struck parts of Araria, Katihar and Vaishali. Wind speeds are expected to reach up to 60km/h overnight, raising concerns about further damage.
Two men were killed by lightning in Gaya district on Friday evening. One of the victims, a 50-year-old farmer, died in Kolhana village in Wazirganj block, while another farmer was killed in Dumaria block as he worked in a field. A buffalo also died in the incident. Stormy conditions persisted throughout the afternoon across both rural areas and the city.
In Forbesganj, in Araria district, a sudden hailstorm triggered panic among residents on Friday night. Large hailstones fell for nearly half an hour, accompanied by strong winds that blew away thatched roofs in several areas. People were seen running for cover as the storm intensified before eventually subsiding.
The weather also disrupted commercial activity in Katihar, particularly in the Chand Bazaar area, where crowds had gathered for Eid shopping on the last Friday of Ramadan. A sudden storm around 7.30pm brought the market to a standstill, with strong winds damaging temporary stalls and forcing shopkeepers to pack up goods as customers scrambled for shelter. Reports of hail were also received from nearby blocks.
Air travel was briefly affected, with an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Gaya diverted to Varanasi due to poor visibility and unsafe landing conditions. The aircraft later returned to Gaya airport at about 7.05pm after a delay of nearly three hours.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for districts including Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Purnia, warning of continued thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds. Residents have been advised to remain indoors and take precautions.
Unsettled weather is expected to persist over the next 48 hours, particularly in north and east Bihar, including the Seemanchal region. While conditions in south Bihar may begin to improve within 24 hours as the western disturbance weakens, authorities have issued an orange alert for Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar for Saturday.
A yellow alert remains in place across several other districts, including Gopalganj, East and West Champaran, Siwan, Saran and Bhagalpur, with warnings of thunderstorms, lightning and possible hail in isolated areas.
