Severe Weather in Bihar: Six Fatalities and Ten Injuries from Lightning Strikes
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Patna, March 21 (NationPress) A sudden shift in weather patterns has thrown normalcy into disarray across Bihar, with thunderstorms, intense downpours, hail, and lightning persisting from Friday night into Saturday.
The harsh conditions have led to significant devastation across several districts, resulting in the loss of six lives and injuring at least ten individuals due to lightning strikes.
Rainfall has been recorded in various districts, including Patna, Bagaha, Bettiah, Banka, Gopalganj, Raxaul, and Khagaria.
In Patna, heavy rains were accompanied by hailstorms, while Raxaul is experiencing severe flooding.
Lightning strikes have also caused damage to trees, properties, and agricultural lands.
In Gaya district, two farmers lost their lives after being struck by lightning in the Dumaria and Wazirganj regions.
In Jamui, a 15-year-old student tragically died from a lightning strike in the Chakai area.
In Mokama (Patna district), ten laborers suffered burn injuries after lightning struck nearby; they are currently receiving treatment and are said to be stable.
In Araria, two children lost their lives and another was injured when a wall collapsed during the storm.
A woman in Kishanganj died due to lightning, while an incident at a poultry farm resulted in the death of approximately 4,000 chickens.
Lightning strikes igniting fires on palm trees have also been reported in Samastipur, Patna, and Muzaffarpur.
The adverse weather has had a detrimental effect on agriculture, with maize and wheat crops suffering severe damage from strong winds, rain, and hail, raising alarms among farmers.
The Meteorological Department has issued warnings for 25 districts throughout the state.
An “Orange Alert” has been declared for four districts, cautioning of wind speeds reaching up to 60 km/h along with lightning occurrences.
A “Yellow Alert” has been issued for the remaining 21 districts. A drop in temperatures by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius is anticipated over the next 48 hours.
In Sheohar, ongoing rainfall and strong winds over the last 24 hours have resulted in extensive waterlogging in both urban and rural settings.
In the Kherwa Darp Panchayat, a pandal erected for Navratri festivities collapsed due to the adverse weather, but fortunately, no injuries were reported in that incident.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, steer clear of open areas during storms, and take necessary precautions as the unstable weather pattern persists across Bihar.