At least six people were killed and several others injured after storms, lightning and fires destroyed villages in East Champaran, Bihar.
The video shows the fire spreading rapidly throughout the area, as residents were seen fleeing for safety and trying to save themselves.
In a separate incident, officials said five people were killed and 10 others injured after a container truck collided with a bus and a minivan in Bihar’s Rohtas district on Monday.
The accident occurred around 3:30 am near Balwaa Matia More on Ara Mohania National Highway under Dinara Police Station limits in the district.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary expressed grief over the deaths of the victims and announced ex-gratia compensation $4 lakh each for the dependents of the deceased, officials said.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister, “Prime Minister Samrat Chaudhry expressed his deep condolences over the sudden death of the five people and prayed to God Almighty to give strength to the bereaved families.”
The deceased have been identified as Ashok Kumar Singh (45), Pintu Kumar (35), Rameshwar Singh (38), all residents of Matia village, Chhotu Kumar (20) of Misrauliya village, and Ramvrat Singh (44) of Bhagwanpur village in Kaimur district.
Dinara SHO Dharmendra Prasad said: “All the victims were returning to their village after attending a tilak ceremony. Near the village bend, people had stopped the bus and the minivan and were getting out of it when an uncontrolled container truck rammed into them, killing five people and injuring 10 others.”
He added that the container truck was seized, but its driver managed to escape.
“The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examination at Sasaram Sadar Hospital and then handed over to their relatives,” Prasad added.
The injured were taken to Dinara Primary Health Center to receive treatment, where doctors referred them to Sasaram Sadar Hospital after providing first aid.
Officials said that two of the injured were also transferred to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
