Patna: The monsoon has strengthened across Bihar, bringing heavy rainfall and worsening the flood situation in several districts. Since Thursday night, Siwan has been witnessing continuous downpours, while clouds loomed over Patna and many other areas throughout Friday morning.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for 19 districts, warning of heavy rain and lightning, while a yellow alert remains in place for the remaining 19 districts, including Patna. The forecast for the next 24 hours includes strong winds, lightning, and light to moderate rainfall. The IMD has also warned of intense rain in the next 48 hours across the state.
Ganga Above Danger Mark; Flooding in Temples and Villages
The water level of the Ganga river remains above the danger mark in Patna and Munger. In Munger, the famous Chandika Sthan temple is submerged under six feet of water, forcing its closure. The Lal Darwaza link road in Munger has been inundated with up to three feet of water, with vehicles stranded and residents pushing them to safety.
Floods have gripped six blocks of Munger district — Sadar Munger, Bariyarpur, Jamalpur, Dharhara, Haveli Kharagpur, and Asarganj. In Begusarai’s Bachhwara area, Ganga water is flowing over roads, and female teachers were seen wading through floodwaters to reach schools. In Krishnanagar village of Bariyarpur, 80 houses are submerged under four feet of water, destroying household belongings.
Patna city is also reeling under the rising Ganga, with two to four feet of water flowing on connecting roads near Mahavir Ghat and Bhadraghat. Several ghats have been barricaded by the administration.
School Closures in Flood-Hit Areas
The worsening flood situation has forced the closure of 118 schools in Begusarai, 32 in Khagaria, and 80 in Vaishali until further notice. In Khagaria, water has entered houses and school premises. The combined impact of the Ganga and Saryu rivers has caused flooding in Chhapra city as well.
Rainfall Deficit Despite Floods
Despite the current flood crisis, Bihar has received 27% less rainfall than normal this monsoon season. By this time of the year, the state should have received 560.4 mm of rain, but only 409.9 mm has been recorded so far.
District-wise Rainfall in Last 24 Hours
The highest rainfall in the past 24 hours was recorded in Rohtas (56.6 mm), followed by Bhabua (37.6 mm), Aurangabad (22.6 mm), Gaya (20.6 mm), and Banka (15.8 mm).
Meanwhile, Motihari was the warmest district in the state on Friday, recording a maximum temperature of 34.2°C.
