• Experts warn that climate change is exacerbating the increase in lightning strikes in India.
• Rising global temperatures are releasing a series of extreme weather events: scientists
• The Indian Meteorological Ministry’s Office predicts heavy rain will be held in Bihar on Saturday.

PATNA: At least 69 people were killed this week in unusually fierce thunderstorms in Bihar, eastern India and neighbouring Nepal, officials said on Saturday.

Flash flooding and lightning kill thousands of people every year, but scientists warn that rising global temperatures are releasing a series of extreme weather events.

Bihar disaster authorities said on Saturday that at least 61 people died in a strong thunder and lightning storm on Thursday and Friday.

Disaster officials told AFPaccusation was blamed on “lightning strikes” on Wednesday and Thursday.

According to local Indian meteorological authorities, heavy rain is expected to hit Bihar again on Saturday.

Last year, experts warned that climate change is exacerbating a shocking increase in India’s deadly lightning strikes, killing nearly 1,900 people a year in the world’s most populous countries.

Between 1967 and 2020, lightning caused 101,309 deaths, a sharp increase between 2010 and 2020.