Deadly Thunderstorms Kill 69 In India, Nepal

• Deadly Thunderstorms Kill 69 In India, Nepal.
• Scientists link extreme weather to rising global temperatures.
• Experts warn of rising lightning deaths across South Asia.

At least 69 people have been killed this week following unusually intense thunderstorms that struck eastern India’s Bihar state and neighbouring Nepal, officials confirmed on Saturday.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Bihar Disaster Management Authority reported that 61 people died between Thursday and Friday due to fierce thunderstorms and lightning strikes. In neighbouring Nepal, disaster officials told AFP that eight more fatalities were recorded on Wednesday and Thursday, attributing the deaths to lightning strikes.

The India Meteorological Department has warned that more heavy rainfall is expected to lash Bihar again on Saturday, raising concerns of further incidents.

While flash floods and lightning are annual occurrences that claim thousands of lives across the region, scientists have long warned that rising global temperatures are driving a surge in extreme weather events.

Last year, experts highlighted a worrying trend, linking climate change to a sharp rise in fatal lightning strikes in India. The country, home to over 1.4 billion people, records nearly 1,900 lightning-related deaths annually.

Research led by Fakir Mohan University in Odisha revealed that lightning strikes caused 101,309 deaths between 1967 and 2020, with fatalities surging significantly between 2010 and 2020.

The recent tragedies underscore growing fears that climate change is intensifying weather patterns, increasing the risks for vulnerable populations across South Asia.

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