Powerful thunderstorm kills 32 in Bihar, India
At least 32 people have been killed and dozens injured in the state of Bihar after a powerful thunderstorm swept through the region on Sunday, May 28, 2017. The storm hit at the height of summer in India and ahead of the monsoon season.
Bihar's Disaster Management Authority said late Monday that 26 people died due to being struck by the lightning while six more died due to collapsing walls and homes.
According to their preliminary assessment, fierce winds and uprooted trees damaged at least 250 homes in ten districts of Bihar.
"The victims were mainly farmers and homeless people," DMA's Anirudh Kumar said. "The wounded were given medical treatments at hospitals and were discharged. The six additional causalities occurred because people left their homes for work despite warnings," he added.
Kumar said the deaths took place in villages across the districts of Jamui, Champaran, Vaishali and Samastipur.
Strong winds also damaged crops and property.
Severe weather across the country is still not over and authorities have issued warnings for 38 districts today.
Featured image credit: NASA Aqua/MODIS. Acquired May 28, 2017.
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