Severe thunderstorms have struck eastern India and Nepal this week, resulting in at least 69 fatalities. The majority of the casualties occurred in Bihar, India, where intense lightning, hail, and strong winds caused widespread damage and loss of life. Neighboring Nepal also experienced significant impacts, with heavy rains and storms contributing to the death toll. Authorities in both countries are continuing rescue and relief operations as adverse weather conditions persist .​

The storms have also led to extensive crop damage, particularly affecting wheat, mango, and lychee harvests in Bihar, weeks before the expected harvest period. The Indian Meteorological Bureau has forecasted that stormy conditions are likely to continue across the region until Saturday, due to a low-pressure system over the west-central Bay of Bengal .​

This recent event underscores the increasing severity of unseasonal weather patterns in South Asia, potentially exacerbated by climate change.