Patna: The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for eight districts in South-West Bihar, forecasting heavy rain and winds reaching up to 40 km/h on Tuesday. Meanwhile, light rain is expected in parts of the remaining 30 districts, while Patna is likely to remain cloudy with low chances of rainfall during the day.
According to the Patna Meteorological Centre, monsoon activity is expected to intensify within the next 24 hours. The state may witness widespread heavy rain over the next six days starting August 1.
Monsoon Deficit: Bihar Sees 42% Less Rainfall
As of now, Bihar has received 272 mm of rainfall against the seasonal average of 474.2 mm, marking a 42% deficit. Several districts are experiencing acute shortfall:
- Sitamarhi: 83% less rainfall
- East Champaran: 78% deficit
- Saharsa: 72% deficit
Contrasting Weather Across Districts
While skies remained cloudy in Patna, Buxar, and Aurangabad, districts like Nalanda and Supaul saw bright sunshine, highlighting the uneven distribution of rainfall across the state.
Patna Soaked Again: Water Enters Over 150 Homes
Patna witnessed another round of heavy rainfall on Tuesday, following continuous showers that began late Sunday night. From 1:30 am Monday to 8:30 am Tuesday, the city recorded 175.4 mm of rainfall, with an additional 3.3 mm during the day. The downpour resulted in:
- Waterlogging at key junctions like Patna Junction and GPO Golambar
- A fallen tree near the Election Commission’s office
- Flooded streets in areas like Niti Bagh Colony (Jagdev Path) and Bhushan Gali (East Lohanipur), forcing residents to wade through knee-deep water
- Saksohra market (Barh) inundated, with vegetables floating in rainwater
Drainage Failure Blamed on Metro Construction
Locals blame the Metro construction agency for worsening the waterlogging situation. Near Ramlakhan Path, work on Ramakrishna Nagar Metro Station involved filling a natural drain and narrowing it with a hume pipe. Originally over 25 feet wide, the reduced drainage capacity caused water to back up and flood homes.
Simultaneously, the Zero Point Sump House and Drainage Pumping Station in Ashok Nagar failed to handle increased pressure. As a result, water entered homes in:
- Bhojpur Colony
- Indira Nagar
- Sanjay Nagar
- Postal Park
- Navratanpur Village
- Sabzi Mandi
- Ashok Nagar Sectors 3, 5, and 7
Temperature Fluctuations: Patna and Vaishali Heat Up
Despite the rains, temperatures have risen in parts of Bihar. Valmikinagar recorded the highest temperature in the state at 35°C in the last 24 hours.
- Patna: Rose by 1°C to 30.1°C
- Vaishali: Rose from 29.2°C to 32.2°C
Outlook
With the monsoon expected to intensify from August 1, the state’s weather patterns could see a major shift. Authorities are advising residents in low-lying areas to remain alert and take necessary precautions.
