A sudden weather upheaval across Bihar has claimed 19 lives and caused extensive damage to standing crops and property within a span of 48 hours. The extreme weather event, marked by intense thunderstorms, hailstorms, and lightning, has severely impacted both rural and urban regions.

Death toll rises as severe storms sweep across Bihar

According to official updates, the storms have caused fatalities across several districts: five each in Begusarai and Darbhanga, three in Madhubani, two each in Saharsa and Samastipur, and one each in Lakhisarai and Gaya. In response, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased.

Heavy crop loss in agrarian districts

The unseasonal storm has been particularly devastating for farmers. Crops nearing harvest—such as wheat, mango, and litchi—have suffered widespread destruction in Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Shivhar, and East Champaran. The damage has sparked fears of significant financial loss in the farming community.

District authorities have begun assessing crop damage to roll out relief measures promptly. Local reports highlight how the erratic weather struck just weeks ahead of harvesting season, compounding distress in the agricultural sector.

IMD warns of continued severe weather

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for continued thunderstorms, lightning, and rain across Bihar until April 12. A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is fueling the adverse weather, and the forecast includes the possibility of hail and strong winds in certain areas.

Districts likely to experience ongoing impact include Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Madhepura, Saharsa, Purnea, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Banka, Munger, Jamui, Sheikhpura, Begusarai, Patna, Nalanda, Nawada, Jehanabad, and Gaya.

Authorities on high alert, residents urged to remain cautious

Officials in vulnerable districts have been put on alert, and emergency response teams are coordinating relief operations. The IMD has urged people to stay indoors during storms, avoid open areas during lightning, and secure loose objects to minimize damage.

In Patna and surrounding cities, heavy rain brought temporary relief from the heat but also led to power disruptions and traffic slowdowns. The administration continues to monitor developments closely and is preparing for potential escalation in weather conditions.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the Pakistani-origin Canadian national wanted in connection with the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has been extradited to India from the United States. After losing a prolonged legal battle against extradition, Rana is being flown on a special aircraft and will be presented before a Delhi court on Thursday.

Rana is a key accused in a conspiracy case registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.

According to the NIA chargesheet, he provided critical logistical and financial support to the attackers.

Close links with David Headley

Born on January 12, 1961, in Chichawatni, Punjab, Pakistan, Rana attended Cadet College Hasan Abdal where he befriended David Headley — a central figure in the 26/11 attacks. Rana later served as a captain in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps.

In 1997, Rana left the army and migrated to Canada with his wife, both of whom became naturalised Canadian citizens in 2001. The couple later moved to the United States, where Rana launched several businesses, including First World Immigration Services, with offices across Chicago, New York, and Toronto. He also ran a halal slaughterhouse catering to Islamic dietary laws.

Deep-rooted connections in North America

Rana’s family is spread across Canada and Pakistan. He owns a home in Ottawa, where his father and siblings reside. His father was a school principal, while one brother is a psychiatrist in the Pakistani military and another a journalist working with a Canadian political publication.

Beyond the Mumbai case, Rana was also implicated in a failed terror plot targeting Denmark’s Jyllands-Posten newspaper, which had published cartoons of Prophet Muhammad in 2005. Dubbed the “Mickey Mouse Project”, the plot involved plans to execute staff members and publicly display their heads in Copenhagen. This attack was never executed due to the arrest of David Headley.

According to investigative agencies, Rana helped Headley establish a front office in Mumbai that was used for reconnaissance and planning the 26/11 attacks.

Arrested in the United States in 2009, Rana had been fighting extradition for over a decade. With all legal avenues now exhausted, he is finally being brought back to India to face trial.

Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, accusing him of yielding to pressure from US President Donald Trump regarding the imposition of tariffs, questioning Modi’s leadership and silence on critical issues.

Addressing the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session on the banks of the Sabarmati River on Wednesday, Gandhi warned that an “economic storm” is looming over India.

“Did you see the photograph of PM Modi hugging Trump? This time, Trump didn’t just hug; he ordered Modi ji to accept new tariffs without a word of protest. To distract from this, they staged a two-day drama in Parliament,” Gandhi said, taunting, “Where is the PM hiding?” He also took a jibe at Modi’s earlier “56-inch chest” rhetoric, implying a lack of assertiveness on the global stage.

Gandhi further criticized Modi’s recent meeting with Bangladesh Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, pointing out what he described as contradictory stances. “Yunus gives adverse remarks, yet he is sitting with him. What kind of leadership is this?” he questioned, highlighting what he sees as inconsistency in Modi’s foreign policy.

Turning to domestic issues, Gandhi strongly condemned the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling it “anti-Constitutional” and an assault on religious freedom. “This Act is not just an attack on one community; it’s a threat to the freedom of religion itself,” he warned, alleging that the BJP and RSS have broader designs.

Citing an article in an RSS-affiliated magazine, he claimed that after targeting Muslims, the BJP-RSS would soon turn their attention to the rights of Christians and Sikhs.

Gandhi also outlined the Congress party’s strategy to counter these challenges. He announced plans to empower and strengthen District Congress Committees and their leaders, positioning them as the backbone of the organization moving forward.

On the issue of social justice, he reiterated the party’s commitment to a caste census, stating, “We will break the 50 percent reservation barrier. What Telangana has done, we will do across the country.”

He accused the RSS’s ideology of being fundamentally opposed to the Constitution, claiming, “They want to control all institutions in the country.” Gandhi urged party leaders to brace for a tough fight to defend the Constitution, emphasizing, “They have all the resources, but we have truth and the love of the people on our side.”