Patna: A sudden change in weather has brought relief from intense heatwave conditions across Bihar, but powerful storms accompanying the shift have claimed at least 13 lives and caused significant damage in several districts.
Over the past few days, temperatures had crossed 40°C in many parts of the state, with hot winds making conditions extremely harsh. The recent cooling trend is being attributed to pre-monsoon activity, as moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal combined with a Western Disturbance, leading to atmospheric instability.
As a result, many districts are experiencing light rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, a pattern expected to continue until May 3. Despite the drop in temperatures, areas such as Kaimur recorded a maximum of 33.3°C, while Gaya and Rajgir reported temperatures slightly above 33°C.
In Patna, the forecast indicates overcast skies, light rain, and strong winds. The Meteorological Department has issued a Yellow Alert across 33 districts, warning of wind speeds of up to 40 kmph.
The storm system has caused widespread disruption. Strong winds uprooted trees and electricity poles, leading to power outages across both urban and rural areas. Several roads were blocked by fallen trees, and railway services were disrupted in multiple sections.
Agricultural losses have been substantial, particularly to mango and litchi crops, which were damaged by hailstorms and high winds.
Multiple fatal incidents were reported. In Begusarai, a young man died after being trapped under debris when a wall collapsed. In Hajipur, a six-year-old child was killed by a falling tree, while a similar incident claimed the life of an elderly woman in Marhaura. In Aurangabad, a man lost his life after being struck by lightning during a wedding procession.
Lightning-related injuries and fatalities were also reported in Madhubani, while in West Champaran, two people died in separate incidents involving a fallen tree and an overturned vehicle.
Further deaths occurred in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, and Samastipur due to collapsing trees during the storm. In Sitamarhi, lightning strikes also triggered fires in some homes.
Authorities are continuing to assess the damage, while emergency services remain on high alert across the state.
With inputs from IANS