Storm, Rain and Lightning Claim 26 Lives, Including 7 Innocents

Patna, Bihar witnessed a devastating storm, rain, and lightning on Monday. Strong winds and lightning claimed the lives of 26 people, including 7 innocent children, while many were injured and left homeless. The highest number of deaths occurred in Gaya, East and West Champaran, Aurangabad, Khagaria, Barh, and other areas. In Gaya district alone, six people lost their lives, where three children were struck by lightning while picking mangoes in Sherghati, turning their joy into mourning in an instant. Farmers in Girarou, Gora, and Wazirganj also fell victim to the lightning. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced a compensation of 4 lakh rupees for the families of the deceased.

In Aurangabad, four people, including two children, lost their lives, while in East Champaran, the death of three people, including two girls, plunged the entire area into mourning. In Khagaria, a 70-year-old man died, while his wife and daughter-in-law were injured.

The strong storm uprooted trees, turned mud houses into rubble, and completely disrupted the power supply. The situation was worst in Gopalganj, where 70 electric poles were uprooted and 12 transformers were destroyed. Trees that fell on the roads completely blocked traffic in Samastipur, Madhubani, Darbhanga, and Sitamarhi.

In Patna, Gopalganj, and Aurangabad, roads were flooded with up to three feet of water after heavy rainfall, disrupting daily life. By 4 pm, dark clouds had caused such darkness that it felt like night in the daytime.

The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert in 18 districts and a red alert in 10 districts, declaring the next 48 to 72 hours as extremely critical. The threat of a storm with heavy rain and lightning still looms.