Storm, lightning strikes claim 6 lives across Bihar

PATNA: Six people, including two women, were killed in separate incidents of rain, storm and lightning across Bihar during the last 24 hours, officials said on Saturday. In another incident, 10 workers were injured after lightning struck while they were travelling on an open tractor in the Mokama tal area of Patna district on Friday late evening.

Of the six deaths, two were reported from Gaya district’s Dumaria block due to lightning strikes. The first incident took place in the Chakrabandha police station area, where farmer Mahendra Yadav was working in his field on Friday evening when rain began amid heavy thunder. Before he could take shelter, lightning struck him directly, killing him on the spot. His buffalo, which was tied nearby, was also struck and died.

The second incident in Gaya district occurred in Kolhna village under the Wazirganj police station area on Friday evening. A 50-year-old farmer, Manoj Kumar Singh, was returning from the field with his father and workers when strong winds and rain suddenly began. Lightning struck Manoj, and he died on the spot, officials said.

In Jamui district’s Chakai block, a 15-year-old student, Ragini, also died after being struck by lightning, a district official told media persons.

In Araria district, storm and rain caused extensive damage on Friday night. Three children were injured when a house wall collapsed at Darbhangiya Tola under the Forbesganj sub-division. One of them, 5-year-old Monazir, died during treatment. In another incident in the same district, at Kothihat village, a three-year-old Shivam Kumar died when a thatched house collapsed, officials said.

In Kishanganj district, a woman died after being struck by lightning. She was identified as 32-year-old Phulmani, wife of Talu Tuddu and a resident of Ward 16, Satal Istamrar village under Bahadurganj block, the official said.



Meanwhile, at least 10 workers were injured in a separate lightning strike in the Mokama tal area of Patna district on Friday late evening. The incident occurred when they were returning home on an open tractor after harvesting crops. The injured were taken to the trauma centre near Mokama. Officials said these workers come every year from districts such as Madhepura, Khagaria and Saharsa to the Mokama tal area for harvesting work.