At least 83 people were killed by lightning across Bihar on Thursday as heavy rains and thunderstorms lashed the state.

“A total of 83 people have lost their lives in lightning strikes in 23 out of 38 districts in Bihar till Thursday evening. Of these, 13 deaths have taken place in Gopalganj, eight each in Madhubani and Nawada, six each in Siwan and Bhagalpur and five each in East Champaran, Darbhanga and Banka districts. The rest of the toll is spread across 15 districts,” a senior official in the disaster management department (DMD) said.

The deaths put a question mark over the lightning early warning system and mobile app Indravajra introduced by the DMD to warn people that an area could be hit by thunderbolts.

The department had implemented the early warning system with the help of US-based Earth Networks by signing an MoU in August 2019. It also entered into a pact with Bangalore-based Qihou Solutions for early alerts through the app. The cost of the warning system and transmission of mobile alerts is being borne by the chief minister’s relief fund.

The high toll indicates that the system has not made any significant difference.

DMD principal secretary Pratyaya Amrit spoke to all 38 district magistrates on videoconferencing, urging them to be proactive in giving information about lightning.

“It is sad that districts, blocks and panchayats have not been active despite our continuous alerts and best efforts. They either don’t sense the gravity of the situation or are careless. Even panchayat mukhiyas who are supposed to ask people to stay indoors immediately on getting an alert, don’t,” a senior DMD official said.

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted her condolences. “Very disturbed by the death of 83 persons in lightning strikes and storms in Bihar...people of Bengal stand by the affected people and express condolences to the families of the deceased,” she tweeted.