Fifteen die in squall in Bihar

At least 15 persons were killed in a squall that lashed Bihar today, the officials said.
The rain and storm also destroyed standing crops, damaged houses and uprooted trees in at least 11 districts of the state.
Disaster Management Department's Principal Secretary Pratyay Amrit said two persons died in Lakhisarai, Aurangabad, Madhubani and Begusarai districts each while it claimed one life each in Patna, Nalanda, Purnea, Darbhanga, Supual, Araria and Munger districts.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the loss of lives and ordered payment of Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to the next of kin of each of the deceased, he said.

The chief minister also directed the district magistrates to conduct survey about the damage to crops due to the squall and the process has begun.
Amrit, who is also the chief managing director of the State Power Holding Company, said the officials acted swiftly and halted functioning of 240 electricity feeders in time.

They were latter switched on, he added.
According to the Met office, the squall coming from the north-west direction hit the state with a speed of 80 km per hour. It was accompanied by 8.3 mm rain.
The weathermen have predicted another squall tomorrow morning too.