Raju Ruidas (35) and his wife Bulti had crossed the river on a boat from their village in Nabakhanda, within the limits of Galsi police station for some work and were returning home the same way, when rains started.
The boat was close to the banks when lightning struck, severely damaging it, the police said adding, both Raju and his wife fell into the sweltering waters of the Damodar.
Raju's body was later on fished out of the river by local villagers and a search was on to trace his wife, the police said.