Deadly Storms Claim Over 60 Lives in India and Nepal Amid Alarming Climate Warnings
At least 69 people have been killed this week following a wave of unusually intense thunderstorms that swept across eastern India’s Bihar state and neighbouring Nepal, in yet another stark reminder of the rising toll of extreme weather events linked to climate change.
According to Bihar’s disaster management authorities, 61 people lost their lives between Thursday and Friday after violent thunderstorms and lightning strikes battered several districts. The situation is expected to worsen, as the India Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy rainfall across the region on Saturday.
In Nepal, officials reported eight fatalities due to lightning strikes on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the total number of storm-related deaths to 69 in just a matter of days.
“The sudden surge in deadly thunderstorms and lightning incidents reflects the growing unpredictability and intensity of weather patterns,” said a spokesperson from Nepal’s disaster authority.
Climate Change Behind the Surge
Scientists have long warned that climate change is accelerating the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, and lightning is no exception. A 2023 study by researchers at Fakir Mohan University in Odisha revealed a disturbing trend: lightning strikes in India are increasing dramatically, killing nearly 1,900 people annually.
The same report found that from 1967 to 2020, over 101,000 people in India lost their lives to lightning, with a sharp spike in fatalities between 2010 and 2020—a period that coincides with India’s increasingly erratic weather patterns driven by global warming.
Rural populations, particularly farmers and outdoor workers, are most vulnerable to such strikes, often with little access to early warning systems or safe shelter during storms.
A Growing Humanitarian Concern
With Bihar now bracing for further rain and flooding threats, disaster relief operations are underway, and local officials are urging residents to stay indoors and remain alert. Emergency teams have been deployed in the most affected areas to assist with evacuation and provide medical aid.
However, experts emphasize that beyond immediate disaster response, long-term adaptation strategies are critical. This includes improved infrastructure, climate education, and strengthening early warning systems for communities at risk.
“The tragedy unfolding in Bihar and Nepal should serve as a wake-up call. We can no longer treat climate-related disasters as isolated incidents—they are becoming the norm,” said a climate researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology.
As the world continues to battle the consequences of rising temperatures, vulnerable nations like India and Nepal are increasingly bearing the brunt—often with devastating human costs.
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Deadly Storms Claim Over 60 Lives in India and Nepal Amid Alarming Climate Warnings