NEW DELHI, June 25 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people have been killed by lightning strikes in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, officials said Monday.
The casualties were reported from Katihar, Munger, Nalanda, Gaya and Banka districts.
"All the deaths took place Sunday night. While five people lost their lives in Katihar and Munger districts, four deaths were reported from Nalanda, Gaya and Banka districts," a disaster management official said.
State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief over the deaths and announced a compensation of 400,000 rupees (6,000 U.S. dollars) to the families of each of the deceased.
The state is witnessing pre-monsoon showers and the weather department has predicted more rains. "More rains are likely to hit the state in the next 24 hours," a weather department official said.
Lightning is common in the monsoon months of June and July in India.