Overview

• Lightning strikes over the last 24 hours claimed 19 lives across ten districts, including five in Nalanda and four in Vaishali.
• Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed ex gratia payments of ₹4 lakh per bereaved family.
• The Meteorological Department forecasts continued heavy rain, strong winds and lightning through late July as the monsoon intensifies.
• Rising river levels and persistent downpours have caused waterlogging and flood-like conditions in multiple districts.
• Disaster Management teams are mobilised to distribute relief, with public advisories urging people to avoid open fields and seek shelter during storms.