At least nine districts of Bihar are facing severe lack of monsoon rains

26-Jun-2025 04:03 PM

Patna. Although the southwest monsoon has brought more than average rainfall to many districts of Bihar—an important agricultural state in eastern India—at least nine districts are facing very little or negligible rain.

These districts include Purnia, Katihar, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Shivhar, East Champaran (Motihari), Begusarai, and Bhagalpur.

In contrast, the southern and south-western districts of Bihar have received significantly more rainfall than the normal average, boosting the pace of Kharif crop sowing.

These districts include Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Kaimur, Arwal, Jehanabad, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Lakhisarai, Supaul, Khagaria, and Madhepura. Paddy is cultivated extensively in these regions, and the surplus rainfall has accelerated agricultural activity.

Additionally, some districts have received rainfall close to or slightly above the normal average. These include Saharsa, Gopalganj, Siwan, Bhojpur, and Buxar. Kishanganj and West Champaran (Bettiah) have recorded normal rainfall.

Meanwhile, districts such as Samastipur, Darbhanga, Vaishali, Patna, Nalanda, Araria, and Madhubani have received slightly below average rainfall.

This data indicates that the distribution of monsoon rainfall in Bihar has been highly uneven, with some areas experiencing torrential rain while others remain dry.

However, Kharif crop sowing, especially for paddy, usually continues over an extended period in Bihar, and harvesting also occurs relatively late.

Therefore, even in regions that received insufficient rainfall in June, there is no immediate reason for farmers to panic.

If heavy rains arrive as expected in July and August, farmers may be able to accelerate sowing and compensate for June’s shortfall.

A low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal is likely to bring heavy rainfall to Bengal, and one end of the system may also reach Bihar and Jharkhand, potentially improving the situation.