Squalls claim three, several injured in Bihar

Kishanganj/Saharsa, Feb 16 (PTI) Three persons, includingtwo children, were killed and dozens others injured whensqualls lashed vast rural areas in Bihar''s Kishanganj, Supaul,Saharsa and Madhepura districts today, official sources said.

Darkness enveloped most parts of the districts thisafternoon with squalls lashing the area, affecting vastpopulation in several panchayats in these districts, sourcessaid.

A Kishanganj report quoting official sources said twochildren Shahnawaz Alam (8) and Rameja Khatun (6) werekilled and about a dozen others injured in thunderstorms whichbadly devastated Belwa, Halamala, Panisal and Gachparapanchayats under Kishanganj block, they said.

The injured were being treated at hospitals atKishanganj and Belwa.

Maheshwari Yadav (55) was killed at Sahugarh panchayatunder Madhepura police station in Madhepura district followingthe squall which destroyed several thatched houses in Ghailarand Madhepura Sada blocks in the district, the sources said.

20 to 25 per cent standing crops were destroyed inNawatta and Satar Kataiya blocks in neighbouring Saharsadistrict, they said, adding the officials estimated loss ofproperties worth Rs five crore.

According to a Supaul report, angry locals blockedNational Highway at Pipra demanding adequate compensation tothe farmers for the destruction of their standing crops in thesqualls.