Effect of Phailin on Bihar

The cyclone Phailin that made landfall in Odisha’s beach town of Gopalpur, weakened by Sunday afternoon but gradually spread over a large area causing torrential rains and flooding, specifically in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, besides Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The aftermath of Cyclone Phailin brought misery to the people of Uttar Pradesh as well by lashing the state with high-velocity winds and heavy rains, raising the total death toll. Though these states were spared of the devastation witnessed in Odisha, strong gusty winds uprooted trees and damaged crops. Farmers were majorly affected as their standing paddy crops were flattened by strong winds and thundershowers.

Phailin entered south Bihar as a depression, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall across the state. Dilapidated structures and electric poles collapsed and widespread destruction of trees and crops have been reported from several districts including Purnia, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Madhepura.

Bihar usually faces the risk of flooding from a run-off into its Kosi and Gandak rivers, originating in Nepal. The state of Bihar is on high alert as adding to the woes of Phailin, the Himalayan country released water from the Bhimnagar barrage into Kosi river, posing threat to several districts including Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura and Purnia districts.

 

picture courtesy: Jagran