Bihar Grapples with Devastating Rainfall: Schools Closed, Alert Issued

Heavy rainfall continues to lash Bihar for the past 24 hours, leading to widespread devastation across the state. Towns and villages are submerged, prompting the closure of schools in districts like Siwan, Gopalganj, Rohtas, and Chhapra. A red alert has been issued for at least two dozen districts, including the capital city. The situation has severely impacted transportation, with roads flooded and agricultural crops destroyed. Both road and rail transport have been disrupted, and several flights to Patna have been diverted. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts inclement weather for the next three days, with a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal moving northwestward, bringing thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy to very heavy rainfall across the region. Red alerts have been issued for specific districts on October 5th and 6th, including Sitamarhi, Sheohar, East Champaran, West Champaran, and Gopalganj. The Disaster Management Department, Government of Bihar, and the Bihar Weather Service Center, Patna, have issued an alert for heavy rainfall, lightning, and strong winds of 40-60 km/hr from October 4th to 7th. The department has also issued a red alert for Muzaffarpur and East Champaran, and an orange alert for Patna, Vaishali, Gaya, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Aurangabad, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Munger, Bhojpur, Siwan, Saran, Arwal, Jehanabad, Madhubani, Khagaria, and Saharsa districts. The department has advised citizens to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities.