Patna: A fierce thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rain and lightning killed seven people and disrupted normal life across Bihar on Friday evening with Patna witnessing massive traffic snarls, uprooted trees and widespread damage.CM Samrat Choudhary announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of those killed in lightning strikes and storm-related incidents. According to official reports, lightning claimed one life each in Bhojpur, Patna, Samastipur and East Champaran, while falling trees caused two deaths in Patna and one in Vaishali.Samrat asked officials concerned to ensure immediate payment of compensation and urged people to follow safety guidelines issued by the disaster management department and remain indoors during severe weather.In one of the worst incidents, a tree collapsed on an autorickshaw on Nehru Path in Patna, killing one person on the spot and critically injuring five others. Disaster management department secretary Chandrashekhar Singh said the victims were rushed to IGIMS.The powerful storm uprooted trees and electric poles across the capital, blocking major roads including Beerchand Patel Path, Gardanibagh, Nehru Path, Dhanki Mor and Fraser Road. Vehicles were crushed under fallen trees in several localities, including areas near the chief minister’s residence and the RJD office, while traffic remained paralyzed for hours.Strong winds and heavy rain also damaged hoardings at Patna airport and other parts of the city. Air services were affected after IndiGo flight 6E 6917 from Kolkata to Patna was diverted to Lucknow due to bad weather.The Patna zoo was closed on Saturday to facilitate removal of uprooted trees and debris. Teams of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), SDRF and NDRF launched restoration work on a “war footing”, while disaster management minister Ratnesh Sada and chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit monitored relief operations.The IMD has issued an orange alert for Saturday, warning of thunderstorms, hailstorms and winds of up to 60 kmph in districts including Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Vaishali. A yellow alert will remain in force across most parts of Bihar till May 12.Meanwhile, Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (Buidco) managing director Animesh Kumar Parashar directed agencies involved in Namami Gange projects in Patna to enforce strict safety measures at construction sites ahead of the monsoon.
