Lightning strikes claim 20 lives in Bihar

PATNA: Lightning strikes continued to wreak havoc in Bihar after it claimed 20 more lives across five districts on Saturday. More than 120 people have been killed over the past nine days.
Eight people were killed by lightning on Friday. On June 25, altogether 92 people were killed by lightning across 22 districts. Later, 11 persons were killed by lightning strikes in five districts on June 30.
With nine deaths, Bhojpur reported the highest number of fatalities followed by five in Saran, three in Kaimur, two in Patna and one in Buxar.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of all those who died due to lightning. The CM also made an appeal to people to take necessary precautions during the turbulent weather.
Weathermen cautioned people to remain alert with regard to lightning strikes expected over the next couple of days. The Patna Meteorological Centre issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms along with lightning in all 38 districts till Monday. A yellow warning stipulates that authorities should be watchful for extreme weather conditions.
Also, a ‘brown’ warning was issued for thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rains at a few places in districts in south-west and south- central Bihar, including Patna, Gaya, Bhojpur, Buxar and Rohtas among others. A brown warning stipulates that the authorities be alert for extreme weather conditions.
A forecast has also been issued for rainfall with thunderstorms across all 38 districts in the state till July 8. The intensity of showers is likely to be comparatively higher in districts in south-west and south-central Bihar on Sunday and Monday.
Forecast for rainfall with thunderstorms at most places has been issued for the next two days in districts in south- central Bihar, including Patna, Gaya, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Begusarai, Lakhisarai and Nawada.
The thundershowers along with lightning have been attributed to the combined impact of several weather factors in the region, including position of monsoon trough lines along with a cyclonic circulation.
The daily evening bulletin issued by the Patna Meteorological Centre stated that a monsoon trough line was passing through Anupgarh, Sikar, Gwalior, Sidhi, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Haldia and then south-eastwards to east- central Bay of Bengal. Besides, a cyclonic circulation was situated over east Uttar Pradesh and neighbourhood.
The all-India weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department on Saturday evening stated that fairly widespread to widespread rainfall or thunderstorm activity along with isolated heavy to heavy rainfall is expected over east and adjoining central India during the next four to five days.