Season’s first heavy rain lashes Bihar

Heavy rain and cool breeze turned the weather pleasant and also brought cheers to farmers who were eagerly waiting for good rainfall for sowing of kharif crops.

The season’s first widespread rain lashed several parts of Bihar during the past 24 hours, said officials of Patna Meteorological Centre on Thursday.

A waterlogged road in Patna after heavy rain on Thursday. (Santosh Kumar/HT)

Heavy rain and cool breeze turned the weather pleasant and also brought cheers to farmers who were eagerly waiting for good rainfall for sowing of kharif crops.

As per the daily bulletin issued, Raniganj (Araria) received 104.2 mm of rainfall, Jhajha (Jamui) 82.4mm, Singheshwar (Madhepura) 65.6mm, Tarapur (Munger) 46.6mm, Katoria (Banka) 46.4mm, Nauhatta (Rohtas) 46.2mm, Jamui 39.5mm, Purnea 38.3mmn and north Katihar 32.8mm during the past 24 hours.

On Thursday, Patna received 26.3mm of rainfall, Gaya 14mm, Purnea 17mm, Muzaffarpur 13mm, Sheikhpura 23.5mm, Banka 28mm, Saharsa 17.1mm rain between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.

Meanwhile, several posh localities and low-lying areas in the capital city Patna were waterlogged in the first strong spell of rain this season. Inundation was seen at Gandhi Maidan, Station Road, pockets of Bailey Road, Eco Park, Boaring Road ,Station road, Rajendra Nagar, Bazar Samiti and Digha.

Patnaites faced trouble in commuting as roads were inundated in rainwater for several hours.

However, Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) claimed that waterlogging was cleared as soon as rain abated.

“Pre-monsoon preparedness helped the civic body to clear water logging after heavy rain in less time. Our 19 quick response team were on field to clear waterlogging with the help of super sucker machine and motor pumps. We redressed all waterlogging complaints registered in control room,” said a press release issued by PMC.

Residents can expect heavy showers for the next four to five days as weather mechanisms have become favourable for active monsoon.

“The east-west trough is lying over Rajasthan while a low pressure area has formed over Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. As a result, the state will continue to receive fairly widespread rain till July 3,” said Neha Kumari, an official at Patna Meteorological Centre.

The MeT office has also issued yellow colour warning for lightning and thunderstorm activities on Friday.