Bhagalpur: A severe storm accompanied by strong winds late on monday night caused extensive damage across the campus of Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, in Bhagalpur district, disrupting infrastructure, research facilities and daily operations.
Widespread Tree Uprooting and Blocked Roads
University officials said hundreds of trees, including mature and young plantations, were uprooted across the campus, blocking internal roads and affecting movement. The Vice-Chancellor’s residence was also impacted, with access routes obstructed due to fallen trees.
The storm led to widespread disruption in vehicular and pedestrian movement as debris and uprooted trees covered key internal roads.
Damage to Orchards and Research Infrastructure
The university’s mango orchards suffered significant destruction, with a large number of trees uprooted due to high-velocity winds. Officials expressed concern over the impact on ongoing fruit research programmes.
Polyhouses installed across the campus were also reported to be completely damaged, affecting experimental and agricultural research work.
Structural Damage Across Campus
Falling trees and strong winds caused damage to several structures, including residential buildings, farm units, the shopping complex, temple premises and administrative facilities.
Tin sheets and roofing panels from multiple buildings, including the Directorate of Seeds and farm units, were reportedly blown away in several locations.
Power Disruption and Emergency Response
Electricity supply across the campus has remained disrupted since the storm. The Vice-Chancellor has directed officials to prioritise restoration of power and clearance of blocked roads.
University authorities have initiated emergency restoration and cleanup operations to normalise functioning at the earliest.
Assessment Committees Formed
Vice-Chancellor Dr D R Singh conducted on-ground inspections of affected areas and constituted multiple committees to assess the extent of damage across different departments and facilities.
Preliminary assessments indicate financial losses running into crores of rupees, though official estimates are yet to be finalised.
Official Statement
Dr D R Singh said the university is prioritising restoration efforts and damage assessment.
He said, “A severe storm has caused extensive damage across the campus, particularly affecting research farms, orchards, polyhouses and several buildings. Committees have been formed to assess the damage, and restoration work has begun. Our immediate focus is to restore electricity, clear roads and normalise academic and research activities.”
University officials said monitoring of the situation is ongoing and restoration work is being carried out on a priority basis.
