Patna : At least eight people have died after being struck by lightning in Bihar, amid heavy rain and stormy conditions across the state. The fatalities were reported in Begusarai, Madhubani and Darbhanga districts, with Begusarai alone accounting for four deaths. Among the victims in Madhubani were a father and daughter, while an elderly man was killed in Darbhanga.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a hailstorm alert for four districts – Kishanganj, Araria, Purnia and Supaul – while light to moderate rainfall is expected across 27 districts on Wednesday. Early morning downpours were recorded in Lakhisarai and Madhubani, with lighter showers reported in rural parts of Saharsa and Begusarai. Strong winds and cloud cover were observed in Munger and surrounding areas.
The change in weather has been attributed to a low-pressure system over Assam and the Bay of Bengal, which is pulling in moisture-laden winds across Bihar, particularly affecting the north-eastern belt. Meteorologists expect the unsettled weather to continue until 13 April, with intermittent rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms likely to bring relief from the intense heat.
However, the drop in maximum temperature – down by around 2C – has been accompanied by a rise in the minimum temperature, leading to increased humidity across the state. “When minimum temperatures and moisture levels rise together, the discomfort from heat increases despite cooler daytime highs,” a meteorologist explained.
On Tuesday, Patna recorded a maximum of 36C and a minimum of 26.8C. The highest minimum temperature, 27.2C, was reported in Gaya. The hottest area in the state was Dehri in Aurangabad, where temperatures soared to 39.8C.
Strong winds of 40–50 km/h are expected to accompany the rainfall in districts including Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, and several others.
The IMD has issued an advisory to farmers in light of the turbulent weather. Those with ready-to-harvest crops have been urged to expedite harvesting and ensure safe storage to avoid damage from rain or hail.
The full list of districts under rainfall alert for April 10-11 includes: Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Aurangabad, Begusarai, Jehanabad, Nawada, Nalanda, Munger, Saran, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Sitamarhi, West and East Champaran, Madhubani, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, Saharsa, Supaul, Khagaria, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Sheikhpura, Samastipur, Sheohar, Banka and Madhepura.
