BIHAR, India — This week, lightning and thunderstorms in the province of Bihar, India, have tragically resulted in no less than 33 fatalities and have inflicted injuries upon numerous people. The disaster management department noted that the main victims were mostly farmers and workers involved in outdoor tasks. Heavy monsoons and thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday caused fatalities in eastern India. More rain and lightning are expected in parts of the state, according to media reports. Bihar's disaster management minister announced that officials in at-risk districts must "raise awareness and take precautions" due to a lightning alert. The provincial government announced a ₹40 lakh compensation for families of those who died from lightning strikes.
Al-Kut, also known as Kut al-Imara, is mainly a Shia Muslim city in Iraq. BAGHDAD, Iraq — Police and health officials report that a massive fire in an al-Kut city superstore in eastern Iraq killed at least 60 people, with 11 still missing as of Thursday. Throughout the night, a major fire consumed the five-story self-service store in Al-Kut, while firefighters bravely fought to extinguish it, local media reported. The cause of the fire remains undetermined; however, the governor of the province has announced that preliminary investigation findings will be disclosed within two days. No other piece of information about the deceased was immediately released by the Iraqi government authorities. Bodies were being taken to a hospital for identification. "The governor informed the journalists, 'We have initiated legal action against the owner of the general store."