Lightning kills 57 in Bihar’s 17 districts, kin to get 4 lakh

Jitendra K Shrivastava

Patna, June 22

Fifty-seven people were killed and 24 injured after being struck by lightning in Bihar on Wednesday.

The overnight storm also killed dozens of animals in 17 of the 38 districts of the state that received the season’s first rainfall. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today chaired a meeting of IMD and emergency response officials, as the state struggled to cope with heavy rain. 

“A study is underway on lightning and thunderstorm forecast. The report is expected in three years,” said Vyasji, Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management Department.

Patna recorded the highest toll with eight persons, followed by five in Buxur, four each in Nalanda, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad and Purnea and three each in Saran, Saharsa and Katihar. 

Reports from remote areas  are yet to reach the disaster management department. The government has announced Rs 4 lakh for each bereaved family. AK Sen, director of the meteorological department, said: “Heavy rain is expected in the north-eastern part of the state, while the rest of the places are likely to receive moderate rain in the next three days.”