A harrowing incident unfolded in the Wazirganj Bazar area of Bihar's Gaya district on Sunday, where a powerful bolt of lightning struck directly onto the residential rooftop of a local political leader. The chilling moment was caught on camera and the footage is now rapidly circulating across various social media platforms. Three young children who were on the terrace at the time filming a video narrowly escaped uninjured from the potentially fatal natural disaster.
Details of the Wazirganj Rooftop Incident
The incident took place on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in Bharat Mata Gali located within the Wazirganj Nagar Panchayat market. The residence belongs to Ranjeet Kumar Pandey, who serves as the block vice-president of JDU and a member of the Wazirganj 20-point committee. The lightning impact was so severe that it caused structural damage to the politician's home. Specifically, the flagpole bearing the flag of Lord Hanuman and the installation site on the rooftop were completely destroyed by the intense electrical discharge and thunderous blast.
Children Narrowly Escape the Danger
According to the homeowner Ranjeet Pandey, his son Prince along with Prateek Kumar and Tejas had gone up to the roof during the rainfall to record a video clip for social media. Visuals from the recovered footage show two of the youngsters posing while the third records the activity on a mobile phone. A sudden, blinding flash resembling a ball of fire plunges onto the terrace accompanied by a deafening roar. Shocked and disoriented by the blast, the children immediately scrambled away from the spot to save their lives.
Safety Warnings Issued by Authorities
Local district administration has repeatedly urged residents to stay away from elevated areas, open terraces, and tall trees during thunderstorms and adverse weather conditions. Going onto rooftops while it is raining heavily poses extreme safety risks. This event mirrors previous tragedies in the state, such as an incident a short while ago in Bihar's Banka district where three women lost their lives due to a lightning strike while planting paddy crops in fields.
