At least 42 people were killed, more than 100 injured and crops damaged when a thunderstorm hit the north-eastern border districts of Bihar late on Tuesday night.
“It was a strong storm with a wind speed of more than 150 kmph. Purnia is the worst-affected district, with the most people killed,” Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told presspersons here after an aerial survey of the affected areas. Officials said the death toll was likely to rise.
Mr. Kumar said the final assessment of damage would be possible only after officials of the affected districts sent in the details.
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“Meanwhile, district officials have been asked to begin relief and rehabilitation works, and the government is keeping a close watch on the situation,” he said.
The affected farmers would be suitably compensated, the Chief Minister said adding that he had spoken to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and got an assurance of help.
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The storm dealt another blow to farmers who had earlier borne the brunt of unseasonable rains and hailstorms. The Disaster Management Department has already put the crop loss at Rs. 1,000 crore.
The storm left hundreds homeless, uprooted electric and telephone poles and trees and destroyed maize and wheat crops in several districts of Seemanchal in north-eastern Bihar.
By a rough official estimate, over 25,000 houses have been damaged.
Purnia, Madhepura, Katihar, Madhubani, Supaul, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Bhagalpur districts have been badly affected.
At least 30 people were killed in Purnia district alone. Seven lost their lives in neighbouring Madhepura district, three in Madhubani and one each in Supaul and Sitamarhi, officials said.
All the injured were admitted to the district government hospital in Purnia. “The injured are still coming to the hospital as several houses have collapsed in remote areas,” S.N. Jha, a civil surgeon, told The Hindu .
Ex gratiaEarlier in the day, the government announced Rs. 4 lakh in ex gratia to the family of each victim.