Thunderstorm, lightning claim seven lives in Bihar, also damage standing crops, fruits

PATNA: At least seven people were killed when thunderstorm accompanied with rains and lightning struck eastern Bihar early Sunday morning.

All the deaths were reported from Bhagalpur, Araria and Katihar districts.

A maximum of four deaths alone were reported from Naughacchia region of Bhagalpur district, media reports said.

The thunderstorm also badly destroyed the standing crops of maize and banana, mangoes and litchi fruits.

Last week too, a powerful thunderstorm accompanied with rain and lightning hit Bihar, claiming at least 10 lives.

The casualties were reported districts like Aurangabad, Lakhisarai, patna, Purnia, Darbhanga, Supaul and Araria, disaster management department sources said.

Last year, lightning had killed more than 60 villagers in Bihar, mostly in eastern Bihar’s border region.