Storm kills 49, renders thousands homeless in Bihar (Second Lead)
By IANSWednesday, April 14, 2010
PATNA - At least 49 people were killed and thousands were rendered homeless in Bihar Wednesday when a massive storm lashed at Purnia, Araria and Kishanganj districts on the border with West Bengal.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar confirmed the deaths of 49 people in the violent storm that lashed the state.
“We have got information till now that 29 people were killed in Purnia, 18 in Araria and one each in Kishanganj and Supaul,” Kumar told mediapersons after an aerial survey of affected areas Wednesday evening.
Principal Secretary (Disaster Management Department) Vayasji told IANS: “A storm with high wind velocity hit the entire Seemanchal region, including Araria, Purnia and Kishanganj, and badly disturbed normal life.”
“Thousands of people have been rendered homeless and many thatched houses severely destroyed,” he said.
Araria District Superintendent of Police S.S. Thakur said an old wall at the Araria jail collapsed, following which “police decided to shift 650 inmates to the Purnea jail”.
The state government has announced Rs.1.5 lakh compensation for the kin of those killed.
