Bihar on Alert for Heavy Rain as Meteorological Department Issues Warnings

Patna: The Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rain alert for 17 districts in Bihar today, with an orange alert in four districts and a yellow alert in 13 others.

According to the department, heavy rainfall is expected to continue over the next two days, accompanied by strong winds ranging from 10 to 50 km/h. The return of the monsoon is gradually commencing, with rainfall already reported in Patna, Motihari, Madhubani, and Bagaha since this morning.

Heavy rainfall in the Terai areas of Nepal and North Bihar is expected to raise the water levels of rivers across the state. The Water Resources Department has issued a warning that the Gandak River is likely to experience significant increases in water levels, prompting alerts for residents in the vicinity.

Many rivers in the state are currently in spate, and flooding continues to affect numerous districts. In Katihar, the Ganga and Kosi rivers have seen rising water levels, resulting in floodwaters encroaching on panchayats in Rasela, Manihari, and Barari blocks. As a precaution, 57 schools in these affected areas have been closed due to the floods.

In Patna, the water level of the Ganga has dropped below the danger mark, but the river remains swollen in Hathidah. In a separate incident, a bus overturned while crossing the Kosi Barrage bridge in Bhim Nagar, Nepal, located on the Supaul border. Sixteen passengers were aboard the bus, but all were safely rescued by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team late last night.

The past 24 hours have seen heavy rainfall across various cities, including Patna, resulting in a temperature drop of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. In Saharsa and Katihar, roads were submerged due to the downpour, while West Champaran recorded the highest temperature at 30.4 degrees Celsius.

The Meteorological Department anticipates rain across most districts until September 28. Officials predict that the monsoon will bid farewell to Bihar within the next week, followed by the onset of easterly winds. From June 1 to September 26, the average rainfall recorded is 968.78 mm, but only 701.2 mm has fallen, indicating a deficit of 28% below normal. It is likely that rainfall will continue to be below average in the coming days.

This 28% shortfall is not expected to be compensated for, as meteorologists indicate that the rain during the Hathiya Nakshatra phase is traditionally viewed as the end of the monsoon season. The Saran district has already seen a 56% reduction in rainfall. Historically, greater rainfall during the Hathiya Nakshatra benefits agricultural productivity.

According to the Meteorological Department, a low-pressure area in the west-central and adjoining north-west Bay of Bengal has weakened as it moves north-west. However, the associated cyclonic circulation is now located in South Chhattisgarh, extending up to 5.8 kilometers above sea level and tilting southwards. A trough related to this circulation extends from North Konkan to South Bangladesh, remaining at a similar height.