Nor'wester storm claims 32, injures over 80 in Bihar

Patna: Thirty-two people were killed and over 80 seriously injured as a nor'wester ravaged several Bihar districts last night, destroying thousands of huts and standing crops.

Principal secretary to Bihar Disaster Management Department Vyasji on Wednesday said the maximum number of 25 deaths were reported from Purnia district, while six have died in Madhepura and one in Madhubani.

The storm hit Purnia, Madhepura, Saharsa, Madhubani, Samastipur, Darbhanga and Samastipur uprooting several thousand trees, damaging power lines and destroying thousands of huts and standing crops of maize, wheat and pulses.

Road transport in the districts have been hit in the aftermath of the storm as many trees are lying uprooted, he said.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director in Patna, R K Giri said the storm packed wind speed around 65 km per hour.

"The storm descended from Nepal side hitting Purnia, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and went deep inside the state up to Bhagalpur. Our radar data is showing that the wind speed was around 65 km per hour," Giri said.

Such storms, he said, are common in this season and are called 'Kal Baisakhi' or 'nor'westers'.

The state government has declared a compensation of Rs four lakh to the kin of each of the persons dead in the storm. The money will be paid from the Disaster Management Fund.

Vyasji said the administration in the affected districts is taking stock of the situation and estimating the loss.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will make an aerial survey of the affected area to assess the situation and the extent of damage, official sources said.