Patna: A dramatic shift in weather swept across parts of Bihar on Thursday morning, with rain, hail and thunderstorms reported in districts including Patna, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Saran, Vaishali and Sheikhpura. Gusty winds reaching up to 50 km/h accompanied the downpour, leading to temporary disruptions and raising concerns over crop damage.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather alert covering the period from May 1 to May 7, warning of continuing thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds across much of the state. The alert follows a night of heavy weather activity that provided relief from rising temperatures but introduced new risks to infrastructure, agriculture and safety.
According to the IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Patna, the current conditions are being driven by multiple cyclonic circulations over southwest and southeast Rajasthan, as well as a trough extending from Rajasthan to Kerala, and another disturbance over Bangladesh reaching altitudes of up to 7.6 km.
These systems have created favourable conditions for widespread moisture incursion, resulting in forecasted rainfall of 10–50 mm across the state in the coming days. One or two locations are also expected to experience hailstorms and severe gusts, especially in north-western, central and southern Bihar.
The IMD has warned of potential damage to standing crops and fruit-bearing trees, as well as risks to weak structures, livestock and human safety. Residents have been advised to seek shelter in pucca buildings during storms, avoid taking cover under isolated trees, and delay any agricultural activity during periods of adverse weather.
Thunderstorm and lightning activity is expected to continue in phases across different regions of the state until May 7, with daily alerts issued for affected areas. On May 2 and 3, several districts in the northwest, north-central and south-central regions are likely to face wind speeds of 30–40 km/h, with similar patterns forecast for eastern and southwestern Bihar in subsequent days.
Farmers and local residents are encouraged to follow daily updates from the IMD via its official website, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp channels for real-time
