Bihar - Dainik Jagran English

Storm and Rain Fury Claims 48 Lives in UP, Bihar

Abhishek Joshi — Sat, 30 May 2026 13:54:41 +0530

The storm and rain fury across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has left 48 people dead, disrupted air travel in Patna, and triggered weather alerts across several northern and central states.

Storms, Heavy Rain Claim 48 Lives Across UP and Bihar; Flight Operations Hit

Rising Death Toll

Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and lightning have claimed at least 48 lives across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar over the past 24 hours, as unstable weather conditions continued to affect large parts of northern and eastern India. Authorities have issued fresh alerts in multiple states, warning of more rain, strong winds and hailstorms in the coming days.

According to officials, Uttar Pradesh reported 31 deaths linked to thunderstorms and related incidents, while Bihar recorded 17 fatalities caused by lightning strikes, strong winds and heavy rainfall. The weather system, which developed amid an ongoing heatwave across several regions, has brought a sudden shift in temperatures but also caused widespread disruption.

Saharanpur Sees Flash Flood-Like Situation

One of the most dramatic incidents was reported from Saharanpur in western Uttar Pradesh, where intense rainfall triggered a surge of water and debris from a hillside. Local authorities said at least 10 vehicles, including an Innova and a tractor, were swept away by the force of the water.

Visuals from the area showed damaged vehicles and debris scattered along roads. Emergency teams were deployed to assess losses and restore normal movement. No major rescue operation was reported by officials, though the incident highlighted the intensity of the weather conditions affecting the region.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has maintained rain and thunderstorm alerts for all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Patna Flights Diverted

In Bihar, heavy rain and thunderstorms disrupted air traffic at Patna airport. Airport officials said four flights were diverted due to adverse weather conditions, while 18 others faced delays.

More than 500 passengers were affected as airlines adjusted schedules amid poor visibility and strong winds. Rail services also experienced delays at several locations, adding to travel difficulties across the state.

The IMD has forecast rain in around 25 districts of Bihar, with fresh warnings issued for thunderstorms, lightning and hailstorms.

Weather Changes Across North India

The changing weather pattern has been visible across several states. Rajasthan witnessed a sharp drop in temperatures after widespread rain and hailstorms. Districts including Churu, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur and Alwar recorded a fall of up to 10 degrees Celsius compared to previous days.

A fresh alert for thunderstorms and hailstorms remains in place for nearly 30 districts of the state. Meteorologists have linked the weather activity to an active western disturbance influencing northwestern India.

In Punjab, hailstorms were reported from Pathankot on Saturday morning, while heavy rainfall lashed Mohali and surrounding areas. Rain and strong wind warnings have been issued for multiple districts, including Chandigarh and Panchkula.

Central India Gets Relief

Parts of Madhya Pradesh also received rainfall, bringing temporary relief from intense summer heat. Several districts, including Gwalior, witnessed showers on Friday, and weather officials have warned of possible hailstorms in nine districts, including Bhopal, Datia, Chhatarpur, Neemuch and Mandsaur.

The sudden change in weather is expected to keep daytime temperatures below recent heatwave levels in many parts of the state.

Monsoon Outlook Under Watch

Even as pre-monsoon activity intensifies, the IMD has indicated that the southwest monsoon is likely to reach Kerala within the next seven days. However, the broader seasonal outlook remains a concern.

The weather agency has projected below-normal rainfall during the June-September monsoon season, estimating precipitation at around 90 per cent of the Long Period Average. While northeastern India is expected to receive near-normal rainfall, several other regions may face rainfall deficits.

Agricultural experts are closely monitoring the forecast, particularly in rain-fed farming regions where monsoon performance directly affects crop planning and rural livelihoods.

Fresh Alerts Continue

For the next two days, the IMD has warned of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. Rainfall activity is expected to remain widespread, with local administrations advising residents to remain cautious during periods of severe weather.

As storm and rain fury continues to affect large parts of the country, authorities are monitoring the situation closely while emergency response teams remain on alert in vulnerable districts.

NDA Sweeps All Five Bihar Rajya Sabha Seats — Nitish Kumar Heads to Upper House as Opposition Crumbles from Within

Nitin Trivedi — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:49:33 +0530

The NDA has delivered a clean sweep in Bihar's Rajya Sabha elections, winning all five seats up for grabs on March 16 and sending a powerful signal about the state of Opposition politics in one of India's most politically consequential states. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP state president Nitin Nabin, JDU's Ram Nath Thakur, Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha, and BJP's Shivesh Ram have all been declared elected to the Upper House, completing a total whitewash of the Mahagathbandhan.

How the Numbers Played Out

Each Bihar Rajya Sabha seat required 41 first-preference votes to be secured. Nitish Kumar and Nitin Nabin led the NDA tally with 44 first-preference votes each, followed by Ram Nath Thakur and Upendra Kushwaha with 42 votes each. The fifth seat, which was always going to be the closely contested one, was won by BJP's Shivesh Ram — but only after second-preference votes were counted. Shivesh Ram had secured 30 first-preference votes in the initial round, and his victory through second preferences is what completed the NDA's clean sweep.

All 202 NDA MLAs voted in a bloc, maintaining perfect internal discipline. The coalition's unity in the ballot room stood in stark contrast to what unfolded on the other side.

Opposition Undone by Its Own Absent MLAs

The Mahagathbandhan's defeat was as much self-inflicted as it was a result of NDA's strength. Four Opposition MLAs simply did not show up to vote — RJD's Faisal Rahman and Congress MLAs Manohar Prasad, Surendra Kushwaha, and Manoj Vishwas were all absent when it mattered most. The Congress party was unable to reach two of its own legislators until after the 4 PM deadline had passed. With those votes missing, the Opposition was left short of the 41 votes needed to secure even their fifth candidate's position.

The RJD had entered the day claiming it had secured the support of 41 MLAs, including five from AIMIM and one from BSP. Tejashwi Yadav publicly insisted that his alliance had the numbers and that the process must be free of pressure. When Shivesh Ram's tally in the first round came to 30 votes against the Opposition's 37, Tejashwi demanded a recount, saying the party with 37 votes must win and that a recount being sought by the ruling side meant they had actually lost. However, the final result — after second-preference votes were factored in — confirmed Shivesh Ram's victory, and NDA's full set of five winners.

Nitish Kumar: From Chief Minister's Chair to Rajya Sabha

The most significant political development embedded in this result is Nitish Kumar's transition from Bihar's Chief Minister to a member of the Rajya Sabha. Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister secured 44 first-preference votes for his Rajya Sabha berth. He has publicly dismissed speculation that this move signals a step back from Bihar politics, stating plainly that he is not leaving the state and will continue working for its people.

His son Nishant Kumar has recently entered political circles, fuelling speculation about succession planning within the JDU. Adding to the political churn, JDU has announced the schedule for its national president's election — with nominations on March 22 and results by March 27 if contested. Nitish Kumar is widely expected to be re-elected as party president, a role he last assumed in December 2023, thereby retaining control of both the party organisation and influence over the state government even as he moves to Delhi.

The Bigger Picture

Bihar's Rajya Sabha results come just months after the NDA's landslide in the Bihar Assembly elections, where the alliance won 202 of 243 seats with BJP emerging as the single largest party with 89 seats. The Mahagathbandhan, led by RJD and Congress, managed only 33 seats combined. That ground-level dominance has now translated seamlessly into the upper house arithmetic, further consolidating NDA's hold on the state across both legislative chambers.

For the Opposition, the Rajya Sabha defeat is a symptom of a deeper crisis. A coalition that cannot keep its own MLAs present on election day, cannot reach its legislators by phone before a critical deadline, and cannot prevent internal defections is one that faces serious questions about its organisational health. Bihar has long been considered one of the harder states for the BJP to govern and win — and yet the NDA has now won decisively at every level, from the Assembly to the Upper House. That is a story the Mahagathbandhan will need to urgently reckon with.