15 killed as thunderstorm and rains lash Bihar,normal life affected

A day after Indian Meteorological Department issued warning of pre-monsoon showers, thunderstorm followed by heavy rains lashed major parts of Bihar on Tuesday. The squall which hit 30 out of 38 districts here left 15 people dead. This includes seven persons who died due to lightning.

"Though we are still getting reports about the damage and casualty figures from far interiors, but as of now we have reports of 15 persons killed due to nature's fury," said an official of the Disaster Management Department. Of the casualty figures due to lightning, two persons died in Begusarai, while one person each was killed in Kaimur, Maner, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Madhubani. 

Reports from far-flung areas said that trees were uprooted following thunderstorm thereby affecting power supply. In areas like Khagaria and Saharsa, several houses were damaged while in Danapur, a newly-built pontoon bridge was washed away.

Weather Department sources said that the thunderstorm followed by rains here was due to cyclonic circulation over central Uttar Pradesh



and an induced trough line stretching from the neighbouring UP and Jharkhand to Gangetic West Bengal via Bihar. "The moisture incursion from trough line and prevailing high temperature in Bihar created conditions for a squall," said senior weather official Anand Shankar.

"The temperature in Patna however dropped from 41 degree celsius to 28 degree celsius," the official added.

Though monsoon in Bihar is slated to arrive by mid-June, rains have provided the much-needed relief from the scorching sun. But at the same time, it has poured in miseries for those living in the low-lying areas which remained water-logged after thunderstorm. Power cut, which led to shortage of drinking water, added to their woes.

In north Bihar, there were reports of huge damage to crops besides affecting mangoes and litchi production.

"Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has asked the Disaster Management Department to assess the situation properly so that adequate compensation could be provided to those affected," the official added.