Patna: A sudden change in weather brought thundershowers and gusty winds to Patna late on Monday evening, offering brief relief from the heat but also causing power outages in several parts of the city. The Patna Meteorological Centre issued a late-night alert at 10:20pm, warning that thunderstorms with lightning and rain were likely in several districts, including Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Patna, Jehanabad, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Banka and Begusarai, over the next two to three hours.
The turbulent weather led to disruptions in electricity supply, especially in areas of central and southern Patna, as high winds damaged power lines. No major injuries or structural damage were reported till the time of publication.
Meanwhile, at least three people have died due to lightning strikes in the last 24 hours in Purnia and Samastipur districts, according to local authorities. Officials have urged residents to remain indoors during storms and avoid open fields or metal objects.
The Met office has issued a yellow alert for thundershowers in parts of north Bihar on Tuesday as well. However, the temporary weather relief is expected to give way to rising temperatures later this week. Forecasts indicate that both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to increase by 4°C to 6°C over the next four days. The mercury, currently ranging between 36°C and 38°C, could climb to 42°C–44°C in parts of south Bihar by May 10.
