Patna: At least 19 people have died due to lightning strikes across 10 districts in Bihar over the past 24 hours, prompting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to announce immediate financial assistance for the families of the victims.
Five people were killed in Nalanda, four in Vaishali, two each in Banka and Patna, and one each in Sheikhpura, Aurangabad, Samastipur, Nawada, Jamui, and Jehanabad.
Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, CM Nitish directed officials to provide an ex-gratia grant of Rs 4,00,000 to the next of kin of each deceased person by the end of the day.
The Chief Minister urged people to remain extremely cautious during adverse weather conditions and to follow safety guidelines issued by the Disaster Management Department to protect themselves from lightning strikes. He advised staying indoors and prioritising safety during such conditions.
