Patna: With severe heatwave conditions expected across several districts of Bihar, the state government has decided to strengthen its early warning systems at the village level to protect vulnerable communities from extreme heat and lightning strikes.
Disaster management minister Ratnesh Sada announced the move after a high-level review meeting held on Wednesday. He said the government’s top priority is to safeguard poor families, daily wage labourers, farmers and marginalised communities who face the greatest risk during extreme weather events.
The meeting was chaired by Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) vice-chairman Uday Kant and attended by officials from the disaster management department and the Bihar Meteorological Service Centre.
According to meteorological centre director C N Prabhu, southern and central Bihar are likely to witness intense heatwave conditions between May 21 and May 26. Maximum temperatures in many districts are expected to range between 41°C and 46°C.
Districts likely to be most affected include Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Buxar, Bhojpur, Arwal, Jehanabad, Gaya, Patna, Nalanda, Nawada, Siwan, Saran, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Banka and Munger. Officials warned that temperatures during peak afternoon hours could trigger dehydration, fatigue, dizziness and heatstroke.
Residents have been advised to stay hydrated, wear light cotton clothing and avoid outdoor activities between 11 am and 4 pm unless necessary.
Officials also discussed plans to expand the early warning network to the grassroots level through coordination between BSDMA, local administration and meteorological services. The strategy includes forming panchayat- and ward-level teams consisting of disaster volunteers, ward members, trained swimmers, masons and master trainers.
Uday Kant stressed the importance of targeted awareness campaigns in vulnerable villages and timely dissemination of alerts through the ‘Sachet’ app and other communication platforms. He also said Bihar is integrating modern technology into disaster management systems under the State Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction (SPDRR).
The government’s latest push comes as Bihar and several other states continue to face prolonged heatwave conditions linked to rising summer temperatures and changing climate patterns.