Tragic Storm Incident Claims Five Lives in Sitamarhi District
Devastating Storm Leads to Fatalities
Representational Image
Patna, June 9: A heartbreaking event unfolded in Sitamarhi district when a powerful storm caused a large Peepal tree to fall onto a residence, resulting in the deaths of five family members, as reported by officials on Tuesday.
This tragic occurrence took place in Revasi Dhanushi Tola (Ward No. 1) within the jurisdiction of the Riga police station late on Monday night.
The victims have been identified as Puja Devi (28), the spouse of Sikandar Sahani, along with her daughter Shivani (5) and her three sons: Rajkumar (7), Veerbhadr Kumar (2), and one-month-old Laigar Kumar.
According to local sources, the family was asleep in their makeshift home, which was located next to an aging Peepal tree.
At approximately 11:30 p.m., fierce winds and heavy rainfall struck the area, uprooting the tree.
The tree crashed directly onto the house, leading to its complete collapse and trapping all five individuals beneath the rubble. Tragically, they all perished instantly.
Upon receiving news of the incident, officials, including the Sadar SDPO, the Block Development Officer (BDO), and members of the Riga police station, arrived at the scene.
Local residents assisted rescue teams in clearing the debris.
The district administration has begun the process of offering compensation and other forms of government support to the affected family in accordance with established protocols.
This calamity coincides with deteriorating weather conditions across Bihar as the southwest monsoon approaches the region.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that the monsoon is anticipated to reach Bihar between June 10 and June 15.
On the same evening, severe storms and rainfall also caused significant disruptions in the Bagaha area of West Champaran district.
Strong winds uprooted trees, damaged homes, and obstructed several major roads.
A large tree fell near Banjariya Chowk on the Ramnagar-Bakhri main road, resulting in a significant traffic jam that left thousands of travelers stranded for hours.
Numerous trees also fell along the Ramnagar-Lauriya and Ramnagar-Narkatiaganj routes, further disrupting transportation.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued weather warnings for various districts in Bihar.
A yellow alert has been issued for West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar, Madhepura, Saharsa, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Jamui, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, and Gopalganj.
These areas are expected to experience thunderstorms, lightning, and winds reaching speeds of 40-50 km/h.
An orange alert has also been issued for Wednesday for the same districts, warning of stronger winds of 50-60 km/h, increased lightning activity, and heavy rainfall.
The Kosi-Seemanchal region is likely to experience particularly intense rainfall during this time.
Weather officials have urged residents to stay vigilant, avoid seeking shelter under trees during storms, and adhere to safety guidelines provided by local authorities.