A wave of extreme weather, including hailstorms, lightning, and torrential rains, has ravaged both the eastern and northern parts of India. Bihar was hardest hit, followed by Uttar Pradesh, with officials in all three states on high alert. Jharkhand also reported serious crop damage and injuries. Bihar, the region most severely impacted by this meteorological catastrophe, saw a sharp rise in the number of fatalities to 80. Hailstorms and lightning struck several regions, causing widespread damage.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the relatives of those slain, and State Disaster Management Minister Vijay Mandal confirmed the horrifying number. An “orange alert” has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for a number of Bihar districts, including Patna, Darbhanga, and Nalanda. Heavy showers are expected to continue till Friday and Saturday in all of these areas. Up until Thursday night, Patna had 42.6 mm of rain, which caused the roadways to get flooded and interrupted daily life.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed authorities to speed up relief work, provide compensation, and estimate crop damage. Jharkhand has also experienced severe weather, with four people injured.
