Severe storms, hailstorms, and lightning strikes that swept across Bihar from Wednesday night through Thursday, 1 May claimed 13 lives across multiple districts, even as the same weather shift brought long-awaited relief from a brutal heatwave that had pushed temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius for several days. More than a dozen people were reported injured, according to state authorities.

Scale of the Destruction

The storm system tore through Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, East Champaran, West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Hajipur, Chhapra, and Begusarai, leaving a trail of collapsed structures, uprooted trees, and snapped power lines. Strong winds downed electricity poles across urban and rural areas, triggering widespread power outages that lasted through the night. Fallen trees blocked key roads, disrupting vehicular movement for hours, and railway operations were also affected in several sections.

Fatalities District by District

In Begusarai, a youth died after being buried under debris when a wall of a newly-constructed building collapsed. In Hajipur, a six-year-old child was killed by a falling tree. In Marhaura, an elderly woman died in a similar incident. In Aurangabad, 50-year-old Akshay Ram was struck by lightning while participating in a wedding procession. In Madhubani, two separate fatalities were reported due to lightning and falling trees, while six others were injured in lightning strikes. In West Champaran, two people died — one from a falling tree and another after an e-rickshaw overturned during the storm. Deaths due to collapsing trees were also recorded in Darbhanga (2), Muzaffarpur (2), and Samastipur (1).

Agricultural Losses and Infrastructure Damage

The hailstorms caused significant damage to mango and litchi crops — two of Bihar's most economically important agricultural outputs — particularly in districts already bracing for harvest season. In Sitamarhi, lightning strikes reportedly set several houses on fire, compounding the destruction. The full extent of agricultural and infrastructure losses is still being assessed, according to officials.

Weather Outlook and Alerts

The Meteorological Department has issued a Yellow Alert for thunderstorms and rain across 33 districts, warning of wind speeds reaching up to 40 kmph. The state capital Patna is expected to see overcast skies with possibilities of light rainfall and strong winds. The weather pattern — driven by moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal combined with the impact of a Western Disturbance — is expected to continue until 3 May. Despite the overall temperature drop, Kaimur remained the hottest district at 33.3 degrees Celsius, followed by Gaya at 33.2 degrees Celsius and Rajgir at 33.0 degrees Celsius. Notably, these temperatures still represent a marked decline from the above-40-degree readings recorded in the days prior. Authorities are monitoring conditions closely as pre-monsoon activity intensifies across the state.