Lightning wreaks havoc in UP, Bihar, claims 77 lives in two days

NEW DELHI/ PATNA: At least 77 people have been killed by lightning in the last two days as violent storms and heavy rains lashed Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, disaster

NEW DELHI/ PATNA: At least 77 people have been killed by lightning in the last two days as violent storms and heavy rains lashed Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, disaster management officials said Wednesday.

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Bihar re ported most of the deaths after an overnight storm, which coincided with the arrival of the monsoon in the eastern state on Tuesday, left at least 57 people dead. Bihar disaster management minister Chandrashekhar warned that the toll could be higher.

Though lightning strikes are relatively common during the June-October monsoon, the death toll is particularly high for two days.

“We have confirmation of 47 deaths and fear the toll may go up as reports are pouring in from other districts,” Anirudh Kumar, an official at Bihar’s disaster management agency, told news agency ANI.

Five deaths were reported from Rohtas and Patna, followed by four each in Aurangabad, Nalanda and Buxar districts. Three deaths were reported from Saharsa, two from Bhojpur and East Champaran and one each f rom Banka, Muzaffarpur, Madhepura and Samastipur.

In Naubatpur block, on the outskirts of Patna, a lightning strike left open a 100 foot (30.5 metre) crack on the ground.

In Patna and Rohtas alone, 16 people were injured by lightning. More than 12 people were also hurt in the Kosi region of Saharsa.