Unseasonal rains and storms rage across; 18 Bihar districts on high-alert: Forecast here

Unseasonal rains and storms have hit the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Manipur and Maharashtra on Wednesday.  While it claimed 19 lives in the state of Gujarat, it has claimed 5 lives in Rajasthan. The Meteorological department has warned the states of Bihar and Karnataka. Other states may also be affected. 

A red alert has been declared in more than 19 districts of Bihar, with 18 others also on alert. The department has predicted thundersqualls, lightning accompanied by light to moderate rain and hail with wind speeds of 60- 70 Kmph in these places. 

The districts on high alert are:

1. Madhepura 
2. Saharsa
3. Purnea 
4. Kishanganj
5. Araria
6. Supaul
7. Samastipur
8. Shivhar
9. Vaishali
10. Darbhanga
11. Muzzaffarpur
12. Madhubani
13. Sitamarhi
14. Chapra
15. Saran 
16. Siwan
17. Gopalganj
18. East Champaran
19. West Champaran

The districts on alert are:

1. Buxar
2. Bhojpur
3. Rohtas
4. Bhabhua
5. Aurangabad
6. Jahanabad
7. Patna
8. Gaya
9. Nalanda Sheikhpura
10. Begusarai
11. Lakhisarai
12. Nawada
13. Katihar
14. Bhagalpur
15. Banka
16. Munger
17. Khagaria
18. Jamui

The unseasonal rains and storms hit parts of India after the western disturbance as a result of cyclonic circulation at 3.1 km above mean sea level in the east  of Afghanistan and adjoining Pakistan. The trough aloft in mid and upper tropospheric westerlies with its axis at 5.8 km above mean sea level. This resulted in showers and storms in west Rajasthan and adjoining areas.

FOLLOW the LIVE updates and weather reports on : Unseasonal Rains And Storms Hit West And North India, PM Modi Announces Ex-gratia Relief For Kin Of Victims In Multiple States: LIVE Updates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his grief on the loss of lives in the other states and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 Lakh for the next of the kin.