Patna: In an unfortunate incident, at least 83 people, including the three children, were killed in lightning and thunderstorm in five districts of Bihar on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced Rs 4 lakhs compensation each for 83 people who lost their lives due to thunderstorms in the state.
PM Narendra Modi expressed his condolences after lightning strikes and thunderstorms in Bihar killed 83 people, injured many, and caused widespread damage to property in the last two days.
PM Modi expressed his grief at the loss of lives and said the state governments are working towards relief and rehabilitation.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the victims.
Mr. Kumar has also appealed to everyone to remain alert and stay indoors as much as possible during the storms.
The state disaster management department said 23 districts of the state were gravely affected with Gopalganj accounting for the maximum number of casualties at 13. Uttar Pradesh has also been affected by the thunderstorms and has reported casualties.
As per the updated information from the State Disaster Management Department, the Gopalganj district registered the highest number of deaths, at 13, followed by five in Darbhanga, four in Siwan, and two each in Madhubani and West Champaran districts.
These people were struck by lightning while working in their agricultural fields, in different blocks of Gopalganj district.
According to officials, Barauli and Uchkagaon blocks told four deaths each followed by two in Gopalganj and one each in Majha, Kateya, and Vijay blocks.
In Siwan, two persons died in Hussainganj and one each in Siwan and Barhariya blocks, district officials said.
Five persons, including three children, were killed and two others injured in lightning strikes in Darbhanga, District Disaster Management Officer Pushpesh Kumar said.
The deceased include two boys in Hanuman Nagar block, a girl in Bahadur block, a woman in a village in Biraul police station area and a man in another settlement under the jurisdiction of Baheri police station.
A couple was also killed while working in their field in Belha village in Phulparas police station area in Madhubani district.
Two other farmers were killed in their respective fields, in two villages under the jurisdiction of Shikarpur police station in West Champaran district.
Reports from districts said more than 20 people were injured and admitted to hospital. Lightning strikes have also caused widespread damage to houses and properties of the residents.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also tweeted his condolences.
“I am shocked to hear the news of 83 people dying due to lightning in Bihar. May God grant strength to their loved ones to bear this sorrow,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
“I appeal to the Congress workers to extend all possible help to the families of the victims,” he added.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also extended her condolences to the victims’ families. and tweeted as Very disturbed by the death of 83 persons in lightning strikes and storms in Bihar, especially in Gopalganj district. People of Bengal stand by the affected people and express condolences to the families of the deceased.
The weather office has predicted thunderstorms in all the 38 districts of the state over the next few days along with “heavy to very heavy rainfall” in the northern, flood-prone districts, bordering Nepal.
Heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning has lashed various parts of Bihar even before the onset of the monsoon in the state.