Heavy downpour and lightning strikes kill multiple people across North India; extreme heat continues in Central India

Severe weather claimed nine lives across Bihar on Friday, with the state capital Patna bearing the brunt of devastating storms, hail, and lightning strikes that felled over 600 trees and left the region reeling from the sudden assault of nature's fury.

The thunderstorms swept through eight districts of Bihar, dumping heavy rain and hail in quick succession. Patna alone accounted for five of the nine deaths, with the remaining fatalities occurring in Bhojpur, Samastipur, and East Champaran districts. Local authorities confirmed that falling trees and direct lightning strikes were the primary causes of death.

PATNA BURIED UNDER DEBRIS

The capital city experienced the brunt of Friday's weather event. Over 600 trees uprooted across Patna during the storms, blocking roads and disrupting normal life. Hailstones also fell in the Phulwarisharif area, adding to the chaos. Despite swift response from municipal authorities, the scale of damage made clearing operations challenging well into the evening.

BROADER IMPACT ACROSS NORTH INDIA

The storms were not confined to Bihar alone. Neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan all experienced rain and hailstorms on Friday. Authorities in Uttar Pradesh have already issued alerts for thunderstorms, rain, and lightning across 17 districts on Saturday. Key cities including Agra, Mau, and Jalaun recorded significant rainfall.

The weather system appeared to be following a pattern typical of pre-monsoon disturbances, bringing localized but intense rainfall to scattered regions across the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

HIMACHAL'S UNUSUAL HAIL DAMAGE

In a rare occurrence for the season, Shimla in Himachal Pradesh witnessed a heavy hailstorm that left roads blanketed with a layer of hail stones measuring over four inches thick. Municipal workers deployed JCB machines to clear the accumulated ice. The hailstorm also damaged anti-hail nets installed by farmers to protect apple orchards and other crops from such weather events—a significant financial loss during the growing season.

HEAT INTENSIFIES IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA

While North India grappled with storms, Central India witnessed a sharp spike in temperatures. Rajasthan's Barmer district emerged as the hottest location in the country, with mercury climbing to 44.6°C on Friday. Nearby Jaisalmer and Phalodi also recorded 44°C. The only respite came in Tonk district, which received afternoon showers.

Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam reached 43.5°C, while Gujarat's Ahmedabad recorded 43.1°C. In Maharashtra, Washim town hit 42.8°C. The contrast between rain-battered North India and the scorching Central regions highlighted the fragmented nature of the weather system.

ALERT EXTENDED INTO WEEKEND

The India Meteorological Department has issued fresh weather warnings for the coming days. Saturday is expected to bring strong thunderstorms and rain alerts across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal face a heightened risk of lightning accompanied by rain.

By Sunday, the system is forecast to weaken, with isolated thunderstorms and light rain expected in specific areas of Uttarakhand and northern Bihar. However, the threat of isolated lightning strikes remains across Punjab and parts of northern India.

GROUND RESPONSE AND ONGOING CONCERNS

Municipal and local authorities in affected states have been mobilised for relief and recovery operations. In Patna, clearing fallen trees continued through Friday evening, with officials estimating several days would be needed to restore normalcy. Power disruptions were reported in several areas due to downed electrical lines and uprooted poles.

The unexpected ferocity of the storms has prompted authorities to issue fresh advisories urging residents to remain indoors during peak weather hours and avoid standing under trees or near electrical installations.