Fatal Lightning Strikes Amid Rain Alert: 9 Dead in Bihar; Patna Sees 4-Degree Temperature Drop

Patna: Bihar residents have welcomed a respite from scorching temperatures over the past three days as meteorological changes bring rain and thunderstorms across the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for rain, thunder, and lightning in all districts for Friday, alongside a yellow alert cautioning wind speeds of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour.

The current weather pattern is expected to offer relief from the heat until May 13. Notably, Patna recorded a significant drop in maximum temperature, plummeting by four degrees to a comfortable 28 degrees Celsius on Thursday. However, amidst the weather shift, unfortunate incidents occurred, with nine fatalities reported due to lightning strikes across Bihar on the same day.

Thursday witnessed heavy rainfall in various districts including Bettiah, Begusarai, Sitamarhi, Munger, Chhapra, Lakhisarai, Arrah, Sheikhpura, Gaya, and Samastipur. Additionally, drizzles were observed in Madhepura, contributing to a decrease in maximum temperatures across multiple districts, some falling below 40 degrees Celsius. Even the capital city of Patna experienced light rainfall, with dark clouds dominating the sky since the morning hours.

Tragically, the lightning strikes claimed several lives, including Pinki Devi, a female laborer from Bhullar village in Jamui, who succumbed to the loud sound of the thunder in Manjhaul of Begusarai. Other victims included Jamuni Devi, who was fetching cattle in Chhatarpur Rakki village of Gaya, two cousins from the Harsiddhi police station area of Motihari, Rindhu Kumari (19) attending to cattle in Kesariya, Babita Devi, wife of Suresh Paswan in Simarhatti village of Samastipur, Giddha Phulwariya of Sitamarhi, 12-year-old Daulat Kumari in Ward 6 of the Panchayat, and a youth in Khagaria. Tragically, a husband and wife cutting grass in Sikti block of Araria were also struck by lightning, resulting in the wife’s demise.

Today, the IMD has issued yellow alerts for rain across a multitude of districts including East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj, Patna, and Bhojpur. Additionally, areas such as Buxar, Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Arwal, Jehanabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Jamui, Munger, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, and Banka are also under yellow alert status, highlighting the potential for inclement weather conditions.