Bihar: 42 dead, 80 injured as heavy storm ravages several districts, Centre assures assistance

Patna: Heavy storm that ravaged three districts in Bihar has claimed over 42 lives and injured 80 people. Expressing concern, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and assured all assistance.

Nitish said that there has been extensive damage to crops and electricity supply has been disrupted as well. Purnia, Madhepura and several other districts of Bihar have been affected by the tropical storm that hit on Tuesday night.

The Bihar Chief Minister has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those killed in the storm. Simultaneously, various officials have been assigned the task of disbursing the compensation amount among the affected.

Nitish said he would be visiting all the affected districts personally to assess the destruction and losses caused by the severe storm.

According to Vyasji, secretary of state disaster management department, road transport has been severely hit in the affected districts as many uprooted trees and electric poles are blocking roads. Besides loss of human life, hundreds of thatched houses have been damaged.

"Huge loss of property and human lives has taken place due to the storm that has hit Purnia, Madhepur, Katihar and other districts. All the concerned officials of the affected districts have been asked to do a survey and also submit a report on the natural disaster," Nitish Kumar said in Bihar legislative assembly.

Vyasji said that at least 25 people have been killed in Purnia, six in Madhepura and at least two in the Madhubani district.

Vyasji also said that storm has caused extensive damage to over thousands of buildings in Madhepura, Purnia, Saharsa, Katihar, Kishanganj, Darbhanga and Madhubani districts.

According to the Purnia officials, over 50 people have been injured and are being treated at the city's Sadar Hospital.

In Madhepura too, six people have died and over 25 people have been injured in the disaster. Some Madhepura towns like Murliganj and Bihariganj have also been hit.

The Bihar disaster management team has said there was no official alert on the storm by the state meteorological department.

All the storm affected districts have also been hit by floods in Kosi river on several occasions in the past.

(With IANS inputs)