Patna: Monsoon continues to pound Bihar with renewed intensity, triggering waterlogging, transport disruptions, and widespread alerts across the state. Patna is among the worst-hit cities, with several areas submerged under 3 to 4 feet of water after incessant rainfall.
Heavy rain resumed on Monday night, submerging key areas of the capital, including Patna Junction, Dakbungla Chauraha, Kankarbagh, and parts of Patna City. Even upscale localities like SK Puri were inundated, with roads resembling ponds and markets like Khetan Market reporting water inside shops. Water has also entered the Bihar Vidhan Sabha campus and Gandhi Maidan, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Outside Patna Junction, 2 feet of water submerged the entrance, and waterlogged railway tracks caused massive disruptions in train operations. The electric signal system failed for nearly nine hours due to a short circuit, leading to the manual movement of about 15 trains, including Tejas Express, Sampoorna Kranti, Shramjeevi Express, Vikramshila, and Magadh Express. Train services from 5 am to 2 pm were either delayed or diverted, impacting over 20,000 passengers.
In Rajendra Nagar Terminal, similar scenes of flooding were reported. The Rajrani Express was rerouted from Patna Junction due to submerged tracks. Passengers also faced inconvenience as water leaked through the sheds at Patna Junction.
Due to bad weather, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cancelled his scheduled visit to Katihar.
Meanwhile, other districts such as Chhapra, Begusarai, and Nalanda have also been receiving heavy rainfall since Monday night. In Nalanda, the Bihar Sharif–Ranchi road was submerged under rainwater, halting vehicular movement.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert in 20 districts, including Patna, warning of continued heavy rainfall. Another yellow alert has been issued for 18 other districts such as Vaishali and Muzaffarpur, with forecasts of light to moderate rainfall and wind speeds of 30–40 km/h.
A special lightning alert has also been issued as the state braces for more showers over the next 48 hours. Strong winds are expected to accompany the rainfall.
The Patna Municipal Corporation office in Bankipur zone was also flooded, further sparking concerns over the city’s preparedness for extreme weather. In a troubling incident, an e-rickshaw overturned near Chiraiyatal bridge due to potholes hidden beneath the waterlogged road.
With floodwaters refusing to recede in several pockets and forecasts indicating more rain, the state administration remains on high alert. Residents have been advised to stay indoors, avoid waterlogged zones, and follow safety precautions issued by the authorities.
