Baitadi Suffers Extensive Damage as Lightning Strikes During Storm

Dhangadhi: Baitadi district has been heavily impacted by a powerful storm accompanied by lightning, resulting in significant damages. The District Police Office in Baitadi is actively working to gather detailed information regarding the extent of the destruction across various locations within the district. Preliminary reports suggest that the storm's lightning strikes have claimed the lives of numerous farm animals, from goats to buffaloes.

In one unfortunate incident, a cow perished in a shed near the residence of local resident Janaksingh Bhandari in Pancheshwari Rural Municipality-5, Rantoli. The lightning caused a fire that resulted in the cow's demise, and the electrical wires connected to the house were completely charred and destroyed. To assess the damage further, two police personnel under the command of Senior Constable Thir Bahadur Daudi have been dispatched from Balara Police Station.

Similarly, in the sheds of Jayadeb Bhatt in Melauli Municipality-7, Kanda, and Shankar Dutt Bhatt, two goats and one goat, respectively, fell victim to the lightning. Senior Deputy Inspector Harjit is leading three police teams from Ela Police Office Tashwadehi to gather additional information on the extent of the damages.

Moreover, in Dogdakedar Rural Municipality-7, lightning claimed the life of a buffalo tied in the shed owned by Ram Dutt Bhatt. Police Assistant Inspector Nawalsingh Bhat is overseeing the deployment of two police personnel from Khochlekh Police Station to obtain comprehensive details about the incident in that area. Additionally, in Gaidegada Chadepani of Dogdakedar Rural Municipality-7, a buffalo in Krishnananda Bhatt's cowshed succumbed to the lightning strike.

The District Police Office in Baitadi has stated that efforts are underway to collect further information, as they continue to investigate the incidents across various locations within the district. Furthermore, the storm also caused damage to local houses, with several roofs blown off. Various school buildings were also affected, including Siddhasigas Basic School in Patan Municipality-10, Panali, where the roofs of two rooms were blown away. Similarly, in Patan Municipality-8, five houses sustained damage, with roofs being torn off. Several shops, such as those owned by Dhan Bahadur Kuwan, Dambarsingh Bista, and Keshav Bhatt in Khodpe Bazaar, suffered roof damage due to the powerful winds. Gagan Singh Mahara's shop in Khodpe market was also impacted by the storm. Lastly, the shop belonging to Padamsingh Bist in Arubata of Patan Municipality-8 incurred significant damages.

The authorities are diligently working to gather complete information regarding the incidents, including the storm's impact on residential and commercial structures.