Relentless monsoon rain has turned into a full-blown crisis across Bihar, with conditions worsening by the day from the state capital Patna to the Seemanchal and Champaran belts. The Ganga and several other rivers are swelling rapidly, and the threat of flooding has deepened in multiple districts.
Ganga Creeps Toward the Danger Mark in Patna
At Digha Ghat in Patna, the Ganga's water level continues to climb, with the river now visibly spreading far beyond its usual banks and unsettling residents living close to the water. Even so, people in the low-lying Diara belt keep crossing the swollen river on boats packed well beyond their safe capacity, a habit that could easily end in a major accident despite repeated warnings from authorities.
Roads Cave In Across Munger, Trapping a Municipal Vehicle
A heavy downpour on Sunday night exposed just how fragile Munger city's roads really are. The stretch connecting Topkhana Bazar to Mirchi Talab caved in at several points, and a municipal corporation tractor-trolley sent out to fill the potholes ended up stuck in the same collapsed patch. Residents allege the road was never properly repaired after sewerage and pipeline work was carried out there, and this rain exposed that shortcut. The situation is no better in Munger's Dharhara block, where floodwater is now flowing over the Dasharathpur-Itwa road, cutting off villages from the rest of the area and making it hard for two-wheelers, four-wheelers and pedestrians alike to get around.
Families in East Champaran Take Shelter in Tents
In Sugauli, East Champaran, the effects of heavy rain across Nepal's Terai belt are now being felt directly. The Sikrahna river is rising fast, and floodwater has already entered several wards and villages, submerging farmland. Some families have had to abandon their homes altogether and pitch tents on higher ground. Locals say big promises are made every year ahead of the flood season, but the situation on the ground never actually improves.
Lightning Kills Three in Chhapra
Amid the continuous downpour, lightning strikes in Chhapra district turned deadly. In Jalalpur block, two young men were killed on the spot by a lightning strike while they were out transplanting paddy, and another person was seriously burned. Separately, in Samhota village, a 14-year-old boy named Rohit Kumar died after lightning struck while he was working in a field.
Weather Office Warns of 48 More Critical Hours
The meteorological department says the monsoon will stay active across Bihar for the next 48 hours. Heavy rain has been forecast in 17 districts, and an orange alert has been issued for 20 districts, with the possibility of lightning strikes in several areas. Authorities are urging people to stay alert, avoid unnecessary risks and move to safer ground quickly if conditions worsen.
