13 dead after severe thunderstorms strike Bihar, India
Image credit: Honest Panda Live/Flickr
Severe thunderstorms claimed at least 13 lives in Bihar, India on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, as heavy rains with hail and lightning lashed different parts of the state.
The worst affected areas were Bhagalpur, Aurangabad, Begusarai, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, and East and West Champaran.
Hailstorm caused severe damage to standing wheat, sugarcane, and other crops. Moreover, a huge scale of litchi and mango blossoms were ravaged.
According to the Times of India, the extent of damage due to the hailstorm in the district is still being assessed by authorities.
In the state's north, thunderstorms disrupted electricity supply and train services.
The storm reportedly claimed at least 13 lives and left 9 others injured in different parts of the state. Three of the fatalities were reported in Gopalganj.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), widespread rainfall with isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and gusts up to 40 km/h (25 mph) is forecast over parts of Bihar, as well as the Sub-Himalayan West Bengal to Thursday, February 27, which will dissipate thereafter.
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