By Editor: Adhya Kalra

 

According to the information received, the injured and dead people were busy in transplanting paddy in the fields when they were struck by lightning accompanied by heavy rain.

 

In Siwan district of Bihar where 6 deaths have been recorded due to lightening, one was found in Padauli Tola of Hasanpura block of the district, one in Surwalia village of Badharia, one in the retail village of Marwa, one near Rashid Chowk in Hussainganj block and one in Pandepur village. The incident has created chaos among the village and the family members of the dead. The bodies were taken to Siwan Sadar Hospital for post-mortem and the administration. A former candidate of Samaj Sevi and Jiradei assembly, Srinivas Yadav has expressed his condolences to the families for their losses.

 

Lightening Thunderstorm

 

88 people were found dead and many were severely injured and burnt due to lightening on 25 June 2020, Thursday. Out of 88, Gopalganj recorded the highest number of deaths with 13 causalities, 8 were reported from each in Madhubani and Nawada, 6 from each in Baghalpur and Siwan, 5 each in Darbhanga, East Champaran, Banka and 3 each in Khagaria and Aurangabad and rest from other districts in Bihar such as Saran,  Jamui, Buxar, West Champaran, Jahanabad, Kaimur, Kishanganj, Sitamarhi, Purnia, Samastipur, Shivhar, Kaimur, Supaul, and Madhepura.

 

Nitish Kumar, chief minister of the state has announced Rs 4 lakhs as compensation for the families of the deceased. At the same time, PM Modi has also expressed his condolences for the families affected by tweeting  “In some districts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, heavy rains and falling lightning caused the tragic news of the death of many people. The state governments are engaged in relief work with promptness. I express my condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this disaster”.

 

Besides this, various districts including North Bihar were receiving heavy downfall on the same day. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a warning of heavy rainfall for the following day too. A red alert was also issued in the districts of Araria and Kishanganj. On the other hand, Siwan Saran, East Champaran, Saharsa, Vaishali, Shivhar, West Champaran, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur,  Gopalganj, Darbhanga, Vaishali, Samastipur, Supaul, Purnia and Madhepura were under orange alert.

 

Red alert is issued when there is an expectation of extremely heavy rainfalls, over 200 mm of rain in the next 24 hours whereas orange alert means moderate to heavy rainfall.

 

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning has also claimed the lives of 24 people and several were injured in Uttar Pradesh on the same day i.e. 25 June 2020, most of which were reported in Deoria. Chief Minister of the state, Yogi Nath has also announced a relief fund of Rs 4 lakhs for the families who lost their loved ones.