Severe Weather Alert Issued as Bihar Faces Heavy Rainfall and Flooding
Weather Conditions in Bihar
Screengrab image shows the flood situation in Patna, Bihar(Source: IANS)
Patna, Sep 7: The monsoon season remains vigorous in Bihar, prompting the Meteorological Department to issue a Yellow Alert for rainfall across 13 districts on Monday.
The districts under alert include West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Vaishali, Samastipur, and Supaul.
Heavy rain is particularly anticipated in four districts: Supaul, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, and Darbhanga.
Additionally, strong winds, reaching speeds of up to 30 km/h, are expected in certain areas, along with a risk of lightning strikes.
The Meteorological Centre has urged residents to exercise caution during this adverse weather.
In the last 24 hours, various regions in Bihar experienced substantial rainfall.
Munger recorded 73 mm, followed closely by Patna with 68 mm, Banka at 67 mm, Muzaffarpur with 65 mm, and both Jamui and Siwan at 55 mm each.
Despite the recent precipitation, Bihar is facing a cumulative rainfall deficit of 35 percent this season.
So far, the state has received 531.3 mm of rain against the anticipated 820.9 mm.
On Sunday, Patna received 68 mm of rain, and while the capital is expected to remain overcast on Monday, the likelihood of continuous heavy rainfall appears low. Some areas may experience light drizzles.
Once the rain subsides, humidity and temperatures are expected to rise, although no significant temperature changes are predicted for the upcoming week.
As rainfall persists in various parts of the state, rising river levels are exacerbating the situation.
Heavy rains in Nepal and Uttarakhand have led to increased water levels in several rivers, affecting 18 districts and approximately 6.65 lakh individuals.
The Ganga River is currently flowing above the danger mark from Buxar to Bhagalpur.
The Punpun River has risen 2.75 meters above the danger threshold, with floodwaters reportedly breaching protective embankments in southern Patna and flooding residential areas.
Transportation has been disrupted in multiple locations, impacting the Patna-Gaya railway line, Bihta Sarmera NH 78, and the Mokama National Highway.
Additionally, the Son River has caused flooding in riverside villages within the Bihta block, affecting around 20,000 residents and submerging several roads.
The Meteorological Department forecasts that rainfall across Bihar will remain inconsistent over the next few days, with localized cloud activity and light rain expected in various regions.