This story is from June 26, 2020

Lightning strikes kill 83 in Bihar, Gopalganj worst-hit

Altogether 83 people were killed by lightning in 23 districts across the state on Thursday. Gopalganj in north Bihar reported the highest number of fatalities at 13, followed by Madhubani with six deaths.
Lightning strikes kill 83 in Bihar, Gopalganj worst-hit
Patna meteorological centre issued a warning for heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning over the next 72 hours
PATNA: Altogether 83 people were killed by lightning in 23 districts across the state on Thursday. Gopalganj in north Bihar reported the highest number of fatalities at 13, followed by Madhubani with six deaths.
Other districts where lightning deaths were reported are —Madhubani (8), Siwan (6), Bhagalpur (6), East Champaran (5), Darbhanga (5) Bhagalpur (5), Banka (5), Nawada (4), Khagaria (3), Aurangabad (3), West Champaran (2), Kishanganj (2), Jehanabad (2), Buxar (2), Kaimur (2), Jamui (2), Purnia (2), Supaul (2) and one each in Samastipur, Sheohar, Saran, Sitamarhi and Madhepura.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of all those killed by lightning. The CM also made an appeal to people to take all necessary precautions during turbulent weather.
“Follow all advisories and safety precautions issued by the disaster management department from time to time. Stay indoors and safe during bad weather,” Nitish was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the chief minister’s office on Thursday evening. PM Narendra Modi condoled the lightning deaths in Bihar and UP in a tweet. “Got to know about the unfortunate death of many people due to lightning in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. State governments are undertaking relief measures with all promptness. I express my condolences to the families,” PM Modi tweeted in the evening.
Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were also among those who tweeted their condolence messages at the largescale lightning deaths in the state.
Sources said most victims in Gopalganj and other districts were out in their fields for paddy cultivation when they were struck by lightning on Thursday morning. Gopalganj DM Arshad Ajeez has appealed to people not to come out of their houses over the next 48 hours owing to an alert for lightning during the same period.
Patna meteorological centre issued a warning for heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning over the next 72 hours. As per a statement issued by the meteorological centre, districts in north and central Bihar close to Nepal Terai region are likely to be affected the most by the turbulent weather.

“The district likely to witness severe impact of the turbulent weather , including lightning and heavy rains, include West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Sheohar, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Saran, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Saharsa, Madhepura, Purnia, Kishanganj and Katihar. Residents are advised to take the required precautionary and safety measures,” the warning issued by Patna meteorological centre stated.
In West Champaran, two persons were killed by lightning at Malda village of Shikarpur panchayat at Narakatiaganj subdivision while they were working in their paddy fields. In Khagaria, a woman in Medinagar village under Chautham police station died on the spot when struck by lightning while returning from the field after cutting grass. In another incident, five kids sustained burn injuries while 14 goats were roasted alive when lightning struck a brick kiln at Kaithi village under Chautham police station.
Weathermen attributed the severe lightning to a confluence of winds along with the position of trough line over Bihar. “A red warning was issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s headquarters on Wednesday evening about extreme weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and lightning at many places in north Bihar over the next 72 hours. The warning is in effect over the next 72 hours as well,” a meteorologist at Patna meteorological centre.
Accordingly, the state disaster management has launched a mobile application named “Indravajra”, which gives an early alert for lightning in a radius of 20kms 40-45 minutes in advance. The app Indravajra can be downloaded from Google Play store.
(With inputs from Tirthraj Kushwaha in Bagaha, N P Thakur in Khagaria and Kumar Rajesh in Bhagalpur)
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