Patna: The toll in the killer Nor'wester in Bihar rose to 55 with one more person dying on Friday in the worst-hit Purnea district even as an alert has been sounded for north-eastern regions of the state about possibility of a thunder squall and rains.
As per the latest report compiled by the state Disaster Management department, Purnea bore the brunt of the Nor'wester with a maximum of 38 deaths. While seven persons lost their lives in Madhepura, three died in Madhubani, two each in Katihar, Sitamarhi and Darbhanga and one in Supual, the report said.
Meanwhile, the state Meteorological department has issued an alert about possibility of thunder squall and rain today and tomorrow in north-eastern parts of Bihar. Director state Met office A K Sen said on Friday that an alert has been sounded on the basis of "atmospheric instability" detected in the area particularly in the districts of Purnea, Katihar, Kishanganj and Motohari.
"The area might witness thunder squall and rains which are dangerous," Sen said. Special Secretary in State Disaster Management department Anirudh Kumar said that the alert has been send to district magistrates of 12 districts in the region. He said they have been advised to keep medical teams on alert and make other necessary administrative preparations to safeguard citizens from further woes. The affected districts are Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, Madhepura, Supaul, Saharsa, Bhagalpur, Banka, Samastipur, Darbhanga and Madhubani in north and north eastern parts of the state.
However, victims are being continuously brought into hospitals. The number of injured brought in Sadar hospital has crossed 100. A team from the district administration inspected the treatment facilities for the storm victims in the hospitals.
