Thunderstorms and lightning have wrought havoc in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh over the past two days, claiming 83 lives in Bihar while 24 in neighbouring UP, and leaving many injured.

Widespread damage to property was also caused by thunderstorms in Bihar, the state disaster management department said in Patna on Thursday.

According to a statement put out by the department, the deaths in lightning strikes happened in 23 districts of Bihar, with Gopalganj accounting for the maximum number of casualties at 13.

Deaths have also been reported from: Nawada and Madhubani (eight each); Siwan and Bhagalpur (six each); East Champaran, Darbhanga and Banka (five each); Khagaria and Aurangabad (three each); West Champaran, Kishanganj, Jehanabad, Jamui, Purnea, Supaul, Buxar and Kaimur (two each); and Samastipur, Sheohar, Saran, Sitmarhi, Madhepura (one each), it said.

Reports from districts said more than 20 people were injured and admitted to hospital. The lightning has also caused widespread damage to houses and belongings of the residents.

Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed a payment of Rs 4 lakh as ex gratia to next of the kin of each deceased.

Meanwhile, the weather department has predicted that the inclement weather could persist for some more days.

An IMD release said thunderstorms are likely to lash 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.

Kumar appealed to the people of the state to remain alert and vigilant stay indoors as far as possible during bad weather conditions.

He also asked people to follow advisories issued by the Disaster Management Department in this regard.

In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, at least 24 people were killed and 12 others injured on Thursday due to incidents of lightning in various districts of the state, officials said in Lucknow.

Nine persons were killed in Deoria, six in Prayagraj, three in Ambedkar Nagar, two in Barabanki, one each in Kushinagar, Pratapgarh, Balrampur and Unnao due to lightning, an official report said in Lucknow.

Taking note of the these incidents, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those who died in these incidents.

He also directed officers to provide the best health care facilities to those injured in such incidents.

Among those injured, eight are from Deoria, two in Barabanki and one each in Prayagraj and Amethi.

Earlier on Wednesday three persons, including a 12-year-old girl, were killed and a woman was injured in separate incidents of lightning in Banda and Lalitpur districts.

Raj Narayan, 38, a farmer, was killed when he was struck by lightning while working in his field in Itwa village under Bisanda police station area of Banda on Wednesday evening.

His body was handed over to his family members after post-mortem examination, police said.

In another incident, a 12-year-old girl died and a woman received serious burns after being struck by lightning in Chakora village under Baan police station area of Lalitpur district.

In a similar incident in Lalitpur, a 37-year-old farmer, identified as Bhanguta, was killed while working in his field in Tila village under Baar police station area.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the two states.

He said the two state governments are carrying out the relief work with promptness.

'Received tragic news about death of several people in some districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar due to heavy rains and lightening. The state governments are engaged in relief work with promptness,' he tweeted in Hindi.

The prime minister expressed his condolences to the families of those killed.