Thunderstorm, Lightning Claim 80 Lives In Bihar, UP; CM Adityanath Announces Ex Gratia

Heavy rainfall and storms in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have resulted in 80 deaths, with Nalanda and Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest casualties due to lightning, collapsing walls, and uprooted trees.

Several trees were uprooted due to thunderstorm and lightning in Bihar.

Source : PTI

At least 58 people died in rain-related incidents in Bihar during the past 24 hours as heavy rains, high-speed winds and lightning wreaked havoc in the state. 

Nalanda reported the highest number of casualties where 22 people were killed due to uprooting of trees and the collapse of a wall, according to All India Radio. 

Lightning, uprooting of trees and the collapse of the wall in the state claimed the lives of a total of 35 people in the state. Five were killed in Bhojpur and three from the Gaya district. Several other districts reported casualties including Patna, Gopalganj, Munger, Samastipur, Jehanabad, Muzaffarpur, Araria, and Begusarai. 

The India Meteorological Department has warned of more rain in the state for the next 48 hours and the Disaster Management Department has urged people to remain vigilant and not to step outside during rain. 

22 Killed In Uttar Pradesh 

In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, at least 22 people were killed in rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours. According to the relief commissioner's office, 13 people died after being hit by lightning while others succumbed to their injuries after walls or ceilings collapsed on them due to heavy winds, reported AIR. 

As many as 11 of the 36 districts that received rain in the state reported casulaties, according to a government spokesperson including Kanpur Dehat, Fatehpur, Firozabad, Kannauj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Sitapur, Siddharthnagar, Azamgarh, Amethi, Barabanki, and Ballia.

UP CM Announces Compensation

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the family of the deceased. He also instructed the officials to conduct a survey to assess the damage caused to life and crops due to the heavy rain and thunderstorms. 

He also directed all district magistrates, SDMs and tehsildars to visit the affected areas immediately and carry out a detailed survey. The officials will have to submit the report to the departments concerned so that compensation can be disbursed directly to the farmers’ accounts within 24 hours. 

The CM also directed officials to ensure the safe storage of wheat at procurement centres and mandis.