Unrelenting monsoon showers have thrown life out of gear across Jharkhand, triggering house collapses, flooding, and a surge in river water levels. The Meteorological Centre, Ranchi, has sounded a yellow alert across several districts, warning of more intense rainfall and thunderstorms until the end of the month.
The heaviest damage was reported from Saraikela-Kharsawan district, where a mud house caved in around 4 am on Saturday under Kharsawan police station limits.
A five-year-old girl, identified as Bajay Bodra, was killed in the incident. Her parents, Munna Bodra (25) and Anushka Bodra (22), sustained severe back injuries, while their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter escaped unhurt. Neighbours rushed the injured to Seraikela Sadar Hospital.
In another incident under Rajnagar police station in the same district, 10 people were buried after a mud dwelling collapsed during the downpour. Local residents pulled them out and rushed the injured to the Rajnagar Community Health Centre. Seven of them, including a mother and her son, were later referred to MGM Hospital in Jamshedpur for advanced treatment.
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Meanwhile, rising water levels of major rivers have heightened concerns in East Singhbhum. The Swarnrekha river at Mango bridge was recorded at 121.64 metres, surpassing the danger level of 121.50 metres, while the Kharkai river at Adityapur bridge swelled to 130.15 metres, well above the danger mark of 129 metres. Authorities have urged residents to stay away from riverbanks and remain vigilant.
Explaining the weather pattern, Ranchi MET Centre Director Abhishek Anand said a low-pressure system over Gangetic West Bengal is moving northwest across Jharkhand, likely causing widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall with gusty winds of 30–40 kmph.
Another low-pressure area is expected to develop over the northwest Bay of Bengal near the Odisha-West Bengal coast around August 25, further intensifying rains.
According to forecasts, heavy showers are expected on August 24 in Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Latehar, Lohardaga, Bokaro, Gumla, Simdega, Khunti, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Dhanbad, and Giridih.
On August 25, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Saraikela-Kharsawan are also likely to be affected. Thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds are predicted in isolated parts between August 26 and 27, followed by heavy rain in southern and central Jharkhand on August 28 and 29.
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