47 Dead in Bihar, UP as Lightning Strikes and Rains Lash North India; Respite from Heat in Delhi
At least 47 people were killed and several injured as lightning strikes, heavy rainfall, and hailstorms swept across northern and eastern India on Thursday. Bihar bore the brunt of the extreme weather, recording 25 fatalities, while Uttar Pradesh reported 22 deaths in separate rain-related incidents. Jharkhand, too, witnessed injuries due to lightning
The intense spell of unseasonal weather brought welcome relief from prolonged heatwave conditions in parts of North India, including the national capital, but also triggered significant damage and loss of life.
Bihar reported the highest casualties, with lightning and hailstorms causing 25 deaths across various districts. Nalanda alone accounted for 18 fatalities, followed by Siwan (2), and one each in Katihar, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, and Jehanabad.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed condolences and announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh each for the families of the deceased. “We are closely monitoring the situation. Relief and rescue operations are being expedited,” said a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, however, claimed the actual toll may exceed 50 and demanded compensation for farmers affected by the storm.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange alert’ for several districts, including Patna, Nalanda, and Darbhanga. Heavy rainfall is forecast for the coming days. Patna recorded 42.6 mm of rain till 5:30 pm on Thursday, resulting in waterlogging across parts of the city.
Uttar Pradesh also witnessed severe weather disruptions. As many as 22 people died across 15 districts, including Fatehpur, Azamgarh, Firozabad, and Sitapur. The casualties were mainly due to wall collapses and lightning strikes.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to expedite relief distribution and disburse compensation to the families of the deceased. He also instructed officials to assess crop losses, ensure secure storage of harvested wheat, and expedite water drainage in flood-prone areas.
In Jharkhand, four people, including three senior citizens, were injured in lightning strikes. Hailstorms and gusty winds damaged crops and uprooted trees in Dhanbad, Hazaribag, and Koderma. Daltonganj recorded 31.8 mm rainfall, while Ranchi saw 7.6 mm.
In Delhi, the rain and thunderstorm brought much-needed relief from heatwave-like conditions. The IMD has forecast more light showers and thunderstorms for Friday, with no heatwave expected in the capital for the next six days.
According to the IMD, thunderstorm activity is expected to persist across eastern, northeastern, central, and northwestern India. Hailstorms are likely in parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab. Heavy rainfall is forecast in Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh.
In southern India, thunderstorms are expected in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, with Kerala likely to receive heavy rain. A dust storm is also predicted for Rajasthan.
