Patna, Sep 16 (IANS) Severe weather conditions, including thunderstorms and lightning, have claimed several lives across Bihar, with fatalities reported in Siwan, Gaya and Purnea on Wednesday.

In Siwan’s Darveshpur village under Hussainganj police station, a grandfather and his 19-year-old grandson were killed after lightning struck them while they were grazing cattle.

Another person who was with them sustained injuries in the incident.

The deceased have been identified as 54-year-old Bandhu Chaudhary and his grandson, Prince Kumar, both residents of Darveshpur village.

According to an official, some members of the family had gone outside the village to graze cattle when the weather suddenly deteriorated, and rain began.

The group reportedly moved towards a nearby tree for shelter when lightning struck, hitting three people.

Bandhu Chaudhary and Prince Kumar collapsed after being struck, while another person managed to return to the village and inform residents about the incident.

Family members and villagers rushed to the spot and took all three to Siwan Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared Bandhu Chaudhary and Prince Kumar dead. The injured person was provided medical treatment.

District police also reached the hospital after receiving information about the incident.

Police Station In-charge Shailendra Singh said the bodies were taken into custody, and the necessary inquest and post-mortem formalities were completed before they were handed over to the relatives.

“Information about the incident was received through the hospital. The police took both bodies into custody, completed the inquest formalities, and handed the bodies over to the relatives following the post-mortem,” Shailendra Singh said.

The deaths of the grandfather and grandson in the same incident have left the Darveshpur village in mourning, with family members and relatives grieving the loss.

In another incident, a 45-year-old woman was killed after being struck by lightning in Tola Ukhad Badhai Bigha village under Wazirganj block in Gaya district.

The deceased, identified as Sangeeta Devi, had gone to graze goats in a field towards the forest area on Wednesday evening.

When the weather deteriorated and rain began, she started returning home with the animals.

According to locals, she was struck by lightning shortly before reaching the village and died at the spot.

Her relatives brought her to the Wazirganj Community Health Centre, where Nandlal Prasad examined her and confirmed that she had already died.

“The woman likely died at the scene of the incident. After completing the necessary paperwork at the hospital, arrangements have been made to send the body to Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College Hospital in Gaya for a post-mortem,” Nandlal Prasad said.

Sangeeta Devi’s husband, Sunil Yadav, had died previously, and she had been living at her father’s home.

She is survived by two daughters, one of whom is married. According to her father, Mithilesh Yadav, Sangeeta worked as a labourer to support the family.

Villagers have urged the administration to provide compensation to the bereaved family under applicable disaster-relief provisions.

Meanwhile, a woman was killed, and four others were injured after lightning struck in Mahinwa Pansoi village under Nagar police station in Purnea district.

Three women from the same family were among those affected, with one of them, identified as Pachniya Devi, wife of Hariur Rishidev and a resident of Chhotki Sahara, dying in the incident.

Her daughter, Rekha, was among those injured. The injured women are undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Purnea.

The incidents have once again highlighted the risks posed by thunderstorms and lightning during periods of severe weather across Bihar.

Authorities have urged residents to take precautions and avoid open areas and isolated trees during thunderstorms.

–IANS

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