How Is Heavy Rain Affecting Life in Bihar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Severe rainfall has led to school closures in Bihar.
- Transportation has been disrupted due to flooding.
- Residents are urged to stay indoors during heavy rains.
- Local authorities are mobilizing disaster response teams.
- Significant agricultural losses have been reported.
Patna, Oct 4 (NationPress) Severe rainfall has significantly disrupted daily life across various regions in Bihar, prompting local officials in Chhapra and Gopalganj to close all schools and anganwadi centres on Saturday.
Continuous heavy rain over the last 24 hours has resulted in extreme waterlogging and near-flood conditions, severely impacting traffic flow.
Major thoroughfares, marketplaces, and residential neighborhoods are submerged, complicating everyday travel for residents. In low-lying areas, homes have been inundated, leaving many trapped indoors.
Transportation has been heavily affected, with rickshaws, motorcycles, and smaller vehicles struggling to navigate the flooded streets.
In several locales, power outages have added to the challenges faced by residents.
This deluge has also inflicted substantial damage on agriculture, adversely affecting standing crops such as paddy, maize, sugarcane, and various vegetables.
Farmers report significant losses in vegetable production, which could trigger a rise in prices shortly.
Numerous farmer associations are calling for an immediate assessment of crop damages and appropriate compensation measures.
Local authorities have activated disaster response teams to aid residents in the most affected areas and to facilitate evacuations when necessary.
Efforts are underway to remove water from the hardest-hit regions.
Residents are urging officials to establish relief camps and deploy additional pumps for effective water removal.
The Patna Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert, projecting continued heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and winds up to 40 km/h across several districts.
Officials have cautioned residents to steer clear of open fields, tall trees, and exposed electrical wires during storms and to seek higher ground in case of flooding.
Meteorologists attribute the intense rainfall to a low-pressure system forming over the west-central Bay of Bengal, which is evolving into a deep depression.
Moisture-laden winds from this system are expected to continue affecting Bihar for the next 48 hours, exacerbating the situation.
During periods of anticipated heavy rainfall, residents are advised to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary.