No respite from heatwave in Bihar as cyclone Biparjoy stalls monsoon advancement

PATNA: Southwest monsoon made its foray in Bihar through the north-eastern districts on Monday but its advancement has been stalled due to cyclone Biparjoy.
As per India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin on Tuesday evening, the Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) - an imaginary line drawn on the map by meteorologists to mark till where they deem the rain-bearing winds were passing through - was passing through Forbesganj. Its position in Bihar was the same as on Monday.
Consequently, scorching heat prevailed in the state and heatwave was declared at nine places, including severe heatwave at Motihari. The places which reeled under heatwave included Patna, Gaya, Sheikhpura, Bhojpur, Aurangabad, Ziradei, Nawada and Nalanda.
Bhojpur and Aurangabad were the hottest places in the state with the maximum temperatures at 43.9 degrees C, followed by Gaya and Dehri with the mercury level at 43.6 degrees C.
Any major respite from the scorching heat is unlikely in south and central Bihar as heatwave warning remains in place in parts of these areas till June 17. Yellow alert for heatwave has been sounded for places like Patna, Aurangabad, Buxar, Bhojpur, Gaya and Sheikhpura.
"Conditions are not favourable for further advancement of monsoon in the region owing to string westerly winds coming from Rajasthan under the influence of cyclone Biparjoy. Heatwave conditions are likely to persist in south Bihar," Ashish Kumar Singh, scientist at Patna Meteorological Centre, told TOI.
Northern parts of the state, on the other hand, are likely to witness thundershowers at isolated places till June 17. Yellow- colored warning has been issued for isolated thundershowers at isolated places in north-central, north-west and north-east Bihar till June 17.