PATNA: The toll from devastating thunderstorms and lightning strikes in Bihar rose to 66 after midnight, bringing the total number of fatalities over the past two days to 80. The disaster management department has described the recent pre-monsoon weather as calamitous, saying that Bihar has recorded an average of 250 deaths annually from natural disasters over the past five years.
"The total casualties reported from thunderstorms and lightning strikes so far have climbed to 80 and the govt expresses deep sympathy with the family members of the deceased," Bihar disaster management department minister Vijay Kumar Mandal told reporters on Friday.
Nalanda reported the highest number of deaths at 23. Among these, seven people were killed when an old tree and the wall of a temple collapsed under the force of the storm. The impact was severe, leaving destruction and anguish in its wake. In addition to the loss of life, the storms also caused widespread damage to rabi crops and onion plantations in the fields.
A Nalanda district administration official emphasised the intensity of the storm and the limited opportunity people had to seek safety. "People hid under trees but they uprooted and when they took shelter inside a temple, its walls collapsed. Just imagine its severity," said Gupteshwar Prasad, a district official.
This is the second time in four years that such a high number of casualties have occurred in a single day due to extreme weather. In June 2020, over 90 people, mostly poor farmers, were killed in one of the deadliest single-day lightning strikes in eastern Bihar. Villagers were caught off guard while working happily in their fields, encouraged by what appeared to be a promising monsoon season. The lightning strikes occurred in quick succession, plunging entire areas into chaos and grief.
Meteorological scientist Ashish Kumar attributed the increase in weather-related fatalities to climate change and rising temperatures. "Although thunderstorms, Kaal Baishakhi, and nor'westers are general features of the pre-monsoon season, the climatic conditions in Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand have remained quite favourable," he told TOI. He also noted that a lack of awareness among villagers contributes significantly to the rising death toll, particularly from April to June.
Avinash Kumar, an official from the disaster management department, reported a noticeable rise in severe weather events in recent years. While acknowledging that thunderstorms and lightning are common during pre-monsoon periods, he partly blamed villagers for ignoring official weather warnings. "The department sent 12 crore SMS alerts to villagers on April 10, asking them to exercise caution. But the people don't pay attention to it," he said, adding that efforts to raise public awareness are ongoing in order to prevent loss of life.
He added that such incidents tend to occur more frequently in parts of south Bihar, which typically receive less rainfall. "Such incidents normally decrease after the monsoon starts," he said.
A study conducted by three meteorological scientists based in Patna examined the spatial and temporal patterns behind lightning-related deaths in Bihar. The study found that the frequency of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes was influenced by moisture influx from the eastern periphery of the state, leading to a higher concentration of lightning in that region. It concluded that, on average, between 2017 and 2022, Bihar recorded 271 lightning-related deaths and over 57 injuries each year.
The study identified four major regions with particularly high vulnerability to lightning strikes. The first lies in southwest Bihar, covering districts such as Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad and Gaya. The second includes the south-central belt, with Patna, Nalanda, and Nawada among the most affected.
The third spans parts of eastern Bihar, notably Banka, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnia, Kishanganj and Araria. The fourth is situated in the north of the state, encompassing East Champaran, Gopalganj and Sheohar. These regions continue to experience the highest rates of casualties and injuries linked to lightning, making them particularly vulnerable to the shifting climate patterns affecting the state.