<span style="color: #222222;">Thunderstorm and lightning claimed 24 lives in many parts of Bihar during the last 24 hours. 19 people were also injured.<br />''<br />''The deaths have been reported from Kaimur, East Champaran Gaya, Patna Arwal and Muzaffarpur districts.<br />''<br />''Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced an ex-gratia of four lakh rupees each to the next of kin of those killed and ordered a free treatment for the injured.<br />''<br />''Director-General of Police, Gupteshwar Pandey said over a dozen police personnel were injured in Patna Police Line due to falling of trees.<br />''<br />''Rail traffic on Bettia-Narkatiyaganj route has been disrupted after electric poles fell between Bhairoganj and Harinagar stations of East Central railway.<br />''<br />''The MeT department has forecast heavy rain, with thunderstorm and lightning in the next 48 hours in the state.</span><br />