STORM 2LST

Thousands of trees were uprooted affecting traffic and
the National Highway 34 was blocked for several hours, the
minister said.
The storm struck when the people had retired for the
night and the casualties were high because most of the houses
that were razed were built with mud.
The ADM said the toll might rise as detailed
information was not immediately available from the far-flung
areas.
In Araria district of the eastern Indian state of
Bihar, which was worst-affected, the storm devastated Jokihat,
Forbesganj and Araria blocks where telecommunication failed
and trees and houses collapsed, sources said.
Bihar Disaster Management department Principal
Secretary Vyasji said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an
ex-gratia payment of Rs 1.50 lakh to next of kin of each of
the deceased, besides ordering construction of pucca houses
under the Indira Awas Yojana and food-grains. PTI