45 people killed in Bihar due to lightning

At least 45 people were killed and over dozen injured in lightning in different parts of Bihar late yesterday evening. While 7 persons were killed in Rohtash district, 5 each died in Patna and Kaimur districts. Casualty is likely to go up as reports from remote areas are yet to reach the state capital. Principal Secretary of Disaster Management Department Vyasji has asked the District Magistrates to send reports about the extent of damage in their districts due to the lightning. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced an ex-gratia of 4 lakh rupees to the next kin of those killed in the incident. Meanwhile,



southwest monsoon has further advanced in Bihar covering almost the entire state including the capital. Patna Met office Director Ashish Sen said only three districts of the extreme northwest part of the state that includes Champaran area are yet to be covered by the monsoon. He said, monsoon is expected to gain momentum in the next three to four days and state is likely to receive good rainfall. Rain brought down temperatures in Patna and other parts of the state yesterday. Patna received 17.2 mm rainfall, while the temple town of Gaya registered 32.6 mm of rainfall. Met Department said Bhagalpur received 25.7 mm of rain.