Bihar: Lightning strikes and thunderstorms kill 16 in last 24 hours

PATNA: Lightning strikes and thunderstorms killed 16 people in seven districts in the state in the last 24 hours, taking the overall death toll due to such turbulent weather up to 36 in the month of June alone.
The districts from where lightning deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, included East Champaran (4), Bhojpur (3), Saran (3), West Champaran (2), Araria(2), Banka (1) and Muzaffarpur (1).
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the deaths due to lightning and thunderstorm and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the family members of each of the victims.
Earlier, three people were killed by lightning strikes at Purnia, Khagaria and Saharsa respectively on June 21. Prior to that, 17 persons were killed due to lightning on June 18 and 19.
Weathermen have cautioned people to remain alert with regard to extreme turbulent weather expected over the next few days as well. Patna meteorological centre has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms with lightning in south-central and south-east parts of the state, along with expected heavy rainfall at isolated places in north Bihar on Thursday.
Even as the majority of areas of the state have received deficient rainfall in the month of June so far, India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a red alert for heavy rainfall at isolated places in Bihar on Wednesday and a yellow alert for the same on Thursday.
The IMD in its all- India weather bulletin issued on Tuesday evening stated that extremely heavy rain is very likely at isolated places in Bihar on Wednesday and heavy rain on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the intensity of the rain increased in north Bihar from Tuesday. Few districts which received a significant amount of rainfall on Tuesday, included Forbesganj in Araria (100.2mm), Agwanpur in Saharsa (46.3mm), Pupari in Sitamarhi (39.5mm), Purnia (23.6mm) and Valmiki Nagar in West Champaran (19.6mm).
The intensity of showers is expected to increase as Patna meteorological centre issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall likely over West Champaran and East Champaran on Wednesday.
An orange alert has been issued for moderate thunderstorms with lightning over the districts in the north-west, north-central, north- east and south-west parts of the state on Wednesday.
IMD has also predicted that the southwest monsoon is expected to cover the remaining parts of the state over the next 24 hours.
Patna meteorological centre had declared the onset of monsoon in Bihar on June 13, calling it the normal arrival of the rain-bearing winds.
However, the monsoon current remained stagnant over north-east Bihar over the next four days and advanced to more parts, including Patna on June 18. It advanced to some parts of the state over the next few days but some areas in western parts are still to be covered.
Apart from sluggish advancement, the rainfall in the state has also been scanty so far.
Except four districts in north-east Bihar, including Supaul, Purnia, Kishanganj and Araria, the remaining 34 districts have received less than normal rainfall. In fact, the rainfall in 20 districts has been 50% less than the corresponding normal.