New Delhi – At least 23 people have been killed in lightning and rain-related incidents in the eastern Indian state of Bihar in the past 24 hours, officials said Monday.
While 18 people were killed due to lightning across eight districts, others died in a wall collapse incident triggered by a storm in the state's West Champaran district.
"Of the 18 persons killed in lightning, five died in East Champaran district, four in Jamui district, one in West Champaran district, two each in Munger, Bhagalpur and Madhepura district and one each in Vaishali and Samastipur districts," a disaster management official said.
"Five others died in a wall collapse incident in Bihar's West Champaran district due to a storm," Manoj Kumar, a disaster management official, told the media.
The state government has announced a compensation of 400 000 rupees (about R80 000) for each of the affected families.