- विज्ञापन -
Nalanda: The death toll in Bihar’s Nalanda district has risen to 23 following destructive storms and heavy rainfall in the area, as confirmed by the District Magistrate on Friday. Earlier reports indicated that 22 people had lost their lives due to the severe weather conditions.
According to DM Shashank Shubhankar, 21 individuals died as a result of thunderstorms, while another person died from lightning strikes. Some victims were buried under debris. “23 people have died in Nalanda; one due to lightning and the others due to being buried at various locations,” Shubhankar stated to ANI.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered compensation for the families affected by this tragedy, and a team has been dispatched to evaluate the damage to crops and housing in the region. “Compensation is being provided to all families according to the Chief Minister’s directives, and most families have already received assistance. Meanwhile, a team is assessing both crop and housing damage,” the DM reported.
Efforts are also underway to restore power in the area, with the restoration of 18 kilometers of low-tension (LT) lines and 200 electricity poles expected to be completed by this evening. “Restoring power has been challenging due to over 18 kilometers of LT lines and more than 300 electricity poles being uprooted, but the restoration work is ongoing and will be complete by this evening,” he added.
The government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those who died in the storms. Besides loss of life, significant damage has been reported to homes, livestock, and agricultural crops. The DM confirmed that officials will commence an assessment of the property and crop damages on Friday, leading to compensation for those affected.
The fierce storm uprooted trees and damaged structures across Nalanda, leading to casualties in several blocks. A significant incident involved a large Peepal tree that fell onto a temple in Nagma village, killing several people who had sought refuge there during the storm. Local villagers are expressing frustration over delays in receiving the promised compensation of Rs 4 lakh. “We haven’t received any compensation yet. Officials came to verify identities using our Aadhar cards, but nothing has come through,” a villager from Nagma stated.
Across Bihar, a total of 80 deaths have been reported due to storms in various regions. Bihar’s Minister of Disaster Management, Vijay Kumar Mandal, emphasized the government’s serious approach to the situation. He mentioned to ANI, “As of now, the death toll has reached 80. The Chief Minister has announced compensation, providing Rs 4 lakh to each bereaved family. Many people have suffered due to the thunderstorms and rain, and we are also working to address the losses faced by farmers. The government is taking this matter very seriously.”
