Bihar: Lightning strikes claim 12 lives, CM Nitish Kumar announces ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh

In a tragic turn of events, 12 more people lost their lives due to lightning strikes in seven districts of Bihar, prompting the state government to announce an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed condolences over the deaths. “In the last 24 hours, 12 people have died due to lightning strikes in Bihar, ex-gratia of ₹4 lakhs each to be given to families of the deceased persons,” Bihar Chief Minister's Office said in a press release on Monday.

Also Read: Weather update: Schools shut in Goa on IMD red alert for rains; orange alert in Karnataka, 10 other states

These latest casualties bring the total number of deaths from lightning strikes in various Bihar districts to over 40 in the past 10 days, newswire PTI reported.

Also Read: 10 killed in lightning in Bihar, four children drown in rainwater pond in UP

According to the latest forecast from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bihar is anticipated to receive heavy rainfall from July 9 to July 11.

The weather department forecast “heavy rainfall” in Bihar and Odisha on July 8, Arunachal Pradesh on July 11, and Assam and Meghalaya on July 10 and July 11. Heavy showers have also been predicted for Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura until July 11.

Also Read: Monsoon tracker: IMD predicts ’very heavy’ rainfall over Uttarakhand, parts of West Bengal & Bihar | Check full forecast

According to the weather bulletin issued on July 7, several regions in India are expected to experience isolated heavy rainfall over the coming days. From July 9 to July 11, Konkan, Goa, and Madhya Maharashtra will likely receive significant rainfall. The Gujarat Region is forecasted to experience heavy rainfall on July 9, while Kerala and Mahe can expect it on July 8.

Telangana is anticipated to have heavy rainfall on July 8 and 9, with Coastal Karnataka following on July 9. North Interior Karnataka is expected to see heavy rainfall until July 10, and South Interior Karnataka from July 8 to July 10. These forecasts indicate varied and potentially impactful weather conditions across different parts of the country.

(With inputs from agencies)