Tragedy struck Bihar on Monday as sudden lightning storms claimed 14 lives and left 11 others injured across four districts. The victims, many of them farmers, children, and daily wage workers, were caught off guard by the deadly weather while going about their routine.
A Sudden Storm, A Trail of Grief
Heavy rains accompanied by lightning swept through Buxar, West Champaran, Katihar, and other districts, turning a routine monsoon day into one of devastation. Among the deceased were four residents from Buxar, three each from West Champaran and Katihar, and one person each from Lakhisarai, Kaimur, Sitamarhi, and Bhagalpur.
In West Champaran, three lives were lost in separate incidents in the Ramnagar and Lauriya areas. A woman was among the deceased. Seven others, including four women, were injured in these lightning strikes. Among them, a child’s condition is said to be critical.
Tragedy in the Fields: Lives Lost While Working and Grazing
In a heartbreaking scene from Ramnagar, five people picking mangoes in Meghwal Mathia were struck by lightning. Two teenagers — 16-year-old Shahabuddin Ansari and 12-year-old Asfaq Ansari — died instantly.
Another incident unfolded in Suarchap, under Daniyal Parsaun in Lauriya, where laborers were returning from paddy fields. Savita Devi, a 35-year-old woman, died on the spot when lightning hit the group.
Meanwhile, in Sitamarhi’s Murhadih village near the Indo-Nepal border, five children had taken their buffaloes to graze when a sudden lightning bolt hit them. Dheeraj, a 14-year-old boy and son of Umesh Rai, lost his life.
Buxar: Lightning Strikes Along the Ganga
Along the banks of the Ganga in Chausa, Buxar, six people had taken shelter under a Pipal tree at Thana Ghat when a bolt of lightning struck. Three of them died on the spot. The surviving three — Neeraj Kumar, Amit Chaudhari, and Sonu Ram — are currently undergoing treatment.
A separate lightning strike in Devdhian village of Rajpur claimed the life of another teenager, adding to the district’s grim tally.
Katihar and Lakhisarai: Burn Injuries Prove Fatal
In Katihar, three people — including two women and a 15-year-old boy — were fatally burned after being hit by lightning. The boy, Maujfir, died around noon in Magheli village under Phalka police station. In Dahatola, also under Phalka, 62-year-old Paro Devi was killed while grazing goats in the field.
Anwari Begum, 40, from Sankola village under Barsoi’s Belwa Panchayat, was another victim of Monday’s deadly storm.
In Lakhisarai, tragedy struck Sheikhpurwa village when 45-year-old Videshi Yadav was killed by lightning while outdoors. Yadav, a farmer and resident of Halsi block, leaves behind a grieving family and community.
Bihar Braces for Monsoon as Heat Persists and Rain Brings Temporary Relief
Weather conditions across Bihar remain unpredictable, with intense heat in some areas and heavy rain in others. Kishanganj saw significant rainfall, signaling the monsoon’s likely arrival between June 17 and 20. An orange alert has been issued for two districts, while 26 others are under yellow warning for thunderstorms and lightning. Monsoon rains are expected to bring widespread relief soon.
