(Image source from: livemint.com)
The devastating lightning strikes claimed the lives of 116 people in various states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as per the latest report on Thursday.
Thunderstorms and lightning have severely damaged Bihar and UP over the past two days. As a drastic repercussion, the death toll has soared to 116 in the two states, according to a revised report on Friday.
The lightning effects embarked on Wednesday and continued to wreak havoc till Thursday evening. The Bihar government said that according to the updated report by the Disaster Management in Patna, the death toll in various districts of Bihar has climbed to 92, as on Friday.
Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, at least 24 people died on Thursday itself and as many as 12 people were injured.
Some 83 people die in Bihar on Wednesday itself due to the grave lightning and more than 20 people have been hospitalized.
“Three had perished to the lightning strikes”, the Bihar government said.
The lightning has not only created casualties but also damaged many houses and belongings of the dwellers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief through a tweet in Hindi saying the news as tragic and the state governments will work with promptness in the relief work.
बिहार और उत्तर प्रदेश के कुछ जिलों में भारी बारिश और आकाशीय बिजली गिरने से कई लोगों के निधन का दुखद समाचार मिला। राज्य सरकारें तत्परता के साथ राहत कार्यों में जुटी हैं। इस आपदा में जिन लोगों को अपनी जान गंवानी पड़ी है, उनके परिजनों के प्रति मैं अपनी संवेदना प्रकट करता हूं।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2020
Expressing their grief towards the deceased, two Chief Ministers announced Rs. 4lakh as ex-gratia to the kith and kin of the victims.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar requested people to stay indoors and we watchful of any untoward events. He also said that due to bad weather conditions and heavy rains people must avoid stepping out as much as possible.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath too asked the officials to provide best healthcare facilities to those who are injured.
The Met Department of Uttar Pradesh has predicted heavy rain across several places in the state on June 26.
An IMD release also predicted “heavy to very heavy rainfall” and thunderstorms across 38 districts of Bihar and states that border Nepal.
By Gayatri Yellayi
