Lightning strikes claim 6 lives in Bihar

PATNA: Lightning strikes claimed lives of at least six people in the state on Tuesday. As predicted by the weathermen, thundershowers lashed several districts. The Patna Meteorological Centre has issued a warning for pre-monsoon thundershowers over the next four days as well.
A yellow warning has been issued for thunderstorm at isolated places across the state on Wednesday and Thursday, while orange warning has been issued for heavy rain and hailstorm at one or two places in West Champaran, East Champaran and Kishanganj on Wednesday.
A yellow warning for thunderstorm at isolated places has also been issued for northern, south-central and south-eastern parts of the state on Friday and, south-west and south-central parts on Saturday.
The districts from where lightning deaths were reported in the last 24 hours included Darbhanga (3), Begusarai (2) and Vaishali (1).
Chief minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief over the deaths due to lightning and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of the kin of the victims.
"Follow all advisories issued by the disaster management department from time to time for being safe during thunderstorm. Stay indoors and safe during bad weather," Nitish said in a statement on Tuesday.
Lightning, thunderstorm in state till May 26: Met
In Begusarai, two persons were electrocuted, while another sustained serious burn injuries when lightning struck them at Chakbal village under Chakia police outpost. Uma Mahto (50) and Arun Ram (40) were engaged in construction work of the house of one Shambhu Sah when lightning struck them.
While Uma and Arun died on the spot, Shambhu sustained serious burn injuries. He was later taken to a private nursing home. Uma was a resident of Kiul village, while Arun was a resident of Bihat Nagar under Chakia police outpost.
Meanwhile, the places which received chief amount of rainfall on Tuesday included Forbesganj (65.2mm), Bagaha (62.8), Supaul (38.4mm), Agwanpur in Saharsa (34.1mm), Purnia (10.6mm) and Khagaria (10mm). The prevailing thunderstorm spell has been attributed to pre-monsoon activities. "A cyclonic circulation is situated over Bihar and a trough line is passing from Bihar to Chhattisgarh. As a result, thunderstorm along with gusty winds and hailstorm is expected at a few places in the state," Neha Kumari, an official at Patna Meteorological Centre, said.
(With inputs from
Rajiv Kumar in Begusarai)