33 dead as strong winds, rains lash state; CM announces Rs 4 lakh as relief
As many as 33 have people died in 16 districts of Bihar due to gale storms, lightning and heavy rains, The Indian Express reported.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday announced financial aid of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the people who lost their lives in the hailstorm. The CM’s office said that after assessing crop and house damage, instructions will be given to provide assistance to the affected families.
Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and lightning have hit several districts of Bihar since the afternoon of May 19, leaving a trail of destruction, including uprooted trees, which have obstructed roads and damaged electric poles, interrupted vehicular travel and power supply.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday expressed grief over the incidents, and said, “I am deeply saddened to see that many people died in the incidents of thunderstorm and lightning in several districts of Bihar. May God give strength to the bereaved families to bear this immense loss.”
PM Modi also said the local administration under the supervision of the state government was actively engaged in relief and rescue work, according to The Indian Express.
The Patna Meteorological Centre has forecast thunderstorm with lightning with a gusty wind speed between 30/40 kmph at isolated places across Bihar for the next two days. It has also issued a ‘yellow’ warning for lightning and thunderstorm activity in West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Saharsa, Madhepura, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnea, and Katihar.
Udayapur woman killed in lightning
A woman died in a lightning strike in Udayapur on Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as Bhakta Kumari Budhathoki (45) of Gothdanda, Katari Municipality-11.
Critically injured in the incident, she breathed her last during the course of treatment, Inspector Mohan Thapa of the District Police Office said.
Demonstration held in Kathmandu demanding action against Mahato’s killers
A group of activists and youths staged a demonstration at Maitighar of Kathmandu on Saturday demanding action against those involved in the murder of environmental activist Dilip Kumar Mahato of Mithila, Dhanusha.
They staged the demonstration demanding justice to Mahato and action against the murderers.
Likewise, they have also demanded that Mahato be declared an environmental martyr.
Similarly, the activists have also urged the government to shut down all the crusher industries being operated illegally across the country.
Mahato was crushed to death by a tipper for protesting illegal extraction of riverbed materials in Dhanusha on January 10, 2020.
One held for raping beauty pageant participant eight years ago
Police on Saturday arrested a man on the charge of raping one of the participants of a beauty pegeant eight years ago.
A team deployed from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office apprehended beauty pegeant organizer Manoj Pandey from Swoyambu of Kathmandu this afternoon.
DIG Uttam Raj Subedi of the Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari said that Pandey was taken under control for interrogation.
Earlier on Wednesday, the girl came out with a series of videos on TikTok claiming that she was drugged and raped in 2014 when she was16-year-old.
People have been staging demonstrations for the past few days in various places of Kathmandu to express solidarity and to demand action against the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the government on Friday formed a five-member probe committee to investigate the incident of a girl who was sexually abused eight years while taking part in a beauty pageant.
The committee was formed under the leadership of senior SP Basant Kunwar.
SP Krishna Koirala, DSP Kopila Chudal, DSP Hari Basnet and Inspector Sapana Khadka are the members of the committee.
