Lightning kills 22 in Bihar; CM announces Rs 4 lakh compensation

A wave of grief has swept across Bihar after 22 people lost their lives in multiple lightning strikes across eight districts on April 9. According to the Bihar Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), most of the deceased were farmers or laborers who were caught in the open during adverse weather conditions while working in the fields.

The district-wise fatalities reported were: Begusarai (5), Darbhanga (5), Madhubani (4), Samastipur (2), Saharsa (2), Aurangabad (2), Lakhisarai (1), and Gaya (1). Local authorities confirmed that lightning strikes occurred suddenly in the afternoon as dark clouds engulfed large parts of the state, accompanied by strong winds and sporadic rain.

Tragic incidents were also reported alongside the fatalities. In Madhubani’s Andhratharhi block, lightning damaged the spire of a temple, while in Saharsa, a tree burst into flames after being struck. Most of the victims were unaware of the weather warnings and continued their work outdoors, unaware of the impending danger.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his deep condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin. He urged residents to strictly follow weather advisories and updates issued by the Disaster Management Department.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), an orange alert was issued on April 9 and 10 for several northern districts including Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, and both East and West Champaran. The IMD warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds with speeds up to 50 kmph.

As per the Bihar Economic Survey (2024–25), lightning and thunderstorm-related incidents claimed 275 lives across the state in 2023, indicating that these are recurring climate-related threats. Authorities are now ramping up awareness drives to prevent similar future tragedies.