Lightning kills 83 in Bihar, 24 in Uttar Pradesh in single day
Bihar: More than 80 people were killed today due to lightning in various places in Bihar. According to the Bihar government, 83 people were killed in various districts today due to lightning. Another 24 people were killed due to lightning in Uttar Pradesh.
On Thursday evening, the Bihar government revised the death toll in the state due to lightning to 83. The government also released a district-wise breakup of the death toll. The most number of deaths were reported from the Gopalganj district (13). Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has announced a Rs 4 lakh ex gratia each for the families of those killed.
Later at night, the Uttar Pradesh government reported that 24 people were killed in the state due to lightning. The most number of deaths in the state were reported from Deoria. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has announced Rs 4 lakh ex gratia each for the next of kin.
According to concerned departments, lightning strikes have left at least 32 and 12 injured in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh respectively. The strikes also caused damage to property and resulted in the deaths of over 40 animals in Bihar alone.
Reacting to the deaths, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and said that the state governments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are prompted responding to the situation.