Sudden Weather Change Brings Relief from Heat in Bihar, 13 Lives Lost Due to Storm

Patna, May 1: The recent severe heatwave in Bihar has significantly impacted daily life, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in several districts. However, a sudden change in weather has provided relief, cooling temperatures across many parts of the state.

According to the Meteorological Centre, this change is attributed to the onset of pre-monsoon weather activities. Moist winds from the Bay of Bengal and the influence of a western disturbance have created instability in the weather over Bihar.

As a result, light rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds have been reported in several districts. This weather pattern is expected to persist until May 3.

Despite the overall drop in temperatures, the Kaimur district remains the hottest area, recording a maximum temperature of 33.3 degrees Celsius. Gaya and Rajgir reported temperatures of 33.2 degrees Celsius and 33.0 degrees Celsius, respectively. While these figures indicate a decline from previous highs, the effects of the heat are still being felt.

In the state capital, Patna, cloudy skies are anticipated, accompanied by light rain and strong winds. The weather department has issued a ‘Yellow Alert’ for 33 districts, warning of winds reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.

However, this sudden weather change has come at a heavy cost. A devastating storm, accompanied by heavy rain and hail, wreaked havoc across Bihar from Wednesday night into Thursday, claiming the lives of 13 people in districts including Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, East Champaran, West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Hajipur, Chhapra, and Begusarai. Reports indicate that over a dozen people have been injured in the incident.

Strong winds uprooted trees, power poles, and wires in many areas, leading to widespread power outages that affected both urban and rural regions throughout the night. Fallen trees blocked major roads, halting vehicle movement for hours, and rail services were also disrupted in several areas.

Agriculture has suffered significant losses, particularly to mango and litchi crops, which were damaged by hail and strong winds.

Since Wednesday evening, numerous tragic incidents have been reported across the state. In Begusarai, a young man was killed when a wall of a newly constructed building collapsed on him. In Hajipur, a six-year-old boy died after being struck by a falling tree. Similarly, an elderly woman lost her life in Marhaura due to a similar incident.

In Aurangabad, 50-year-old Akshay Ram died after being struck by lightning while attending a wedding procession. In Madhubani, six people were injured due to lightning strikes, while two fatalities occurred from separate incidents involving lightning and falling trees. In West Champaran, two individuals died—one from a falling tree and another when an e-rickshaw overturned.

Deaths due to falling trees were also reported in Darbhanga (2), Muzaffarpur (2), and Samastipur (1). Additionally, hail and lightning caused extensive damage in several districts, including Sitamarhi, with reports of houses catching fire due to lightning strikes.

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