Lightning strikes kill 15 in Bihar

PATNA: Lightning strikes claimed lives of at least 15 people in six districts as rain accompanied by thunderstorm lashed Patna and several other parts of the state on Tuesday. Weathermen have predicted that showers will continue in scattered manner in the state over the next four days.
Lightning killed three people each in Gopalganj, Bhojpur and Rohtas and two each in Saran, Kaimur and Vaishali districts. The two people who died in Saran have been identified as Shilpi (18) and Kajal (15), residents of Hazaam Toli village under the Panapur police station area in the district.
CM Nitish Kumar has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of the kin of each victims. The CM has also appealed to people to take necessary precautions during the turbulent weather.
“Follow all advisories issued by the disaster management department from time to time for being safe during lightning. Stay indoors and safe during bad weather,” Nitish was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the chief minister’s office on Tuesday.
Death by lightening is a serious issue in Bihar as such incidents happen frequently in the region. Lightning has so far claimed lives of 150 people this monsoon, mostly in June.
Meanwhile, Patna Meteorological Centre on Tuesday issued a yellow warning for thunderstorm with lightning at one or two places in all 38 districts of the state over the next two days. Weathermen have, however, ruled out any strong system in the region and attributed the thundershowers on Tuesday to local convective activities.
According to the daily weather bulletin issued by Patna Meteorological Centre, heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at one or two places in north-east and north-west parts of the state. Light to moderate rainfall occurred at some places in north-west, north-central, south-west and south-eastern parts and most places in north-east parts of the state in the last 24 hours. Patna recorded 19.8mm of rainfall on Tuesday.
(With inputs from H K Verma in Chhapra)