The pandemic's first wave had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of rural workers in Bihar (including the self-employed) last year, according to a survey based research, jointly done by economists from Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability at Monash University, Australia and the New Delhi-based Institute for Human Development. A recent press note issued by the authors of the study shows that almost 94.4 percent of the households participating...

-Down to Earth Bihar usually gets heavy rains in July and August; floods in June are an unusual occurrence, experts said Several villages have been flooded after 3-4 days of early monsoon rains in the catchment areas of the Gandak and Burhi Gandak rivers in Nepal and north Bihar. Affected districts include West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj and Muzaffarpur. Other rivers including the Bagmati, Koshi, Kamla Balan, Bhuthi Balan and Ghaghara are also...

-The Telegraph High toll indicates that the system has not made any significant difference Patna: At least 83 people were killed by lightning across Bihar on Thursday as heavy rains and thunderstorms lashed the state. “A total of 83 people have lost their lives in lightning strikes in 23 out of 38 districts in Bihar till Thursday evening. Of these, 13 deaths have taken place in Gopalganj, eight each in Madhubani and Nawada,...

-Down to Earth Locusts around 500 km away from districts. Experts say little possibility of them entering state The Bihar government’s agriculture department has begun mock drills in villages and launched an awareness campaign, over fears that locust swarms may enter the state. Ten of the state’s districts that border Uttar Pradesh were put high alert. The districts include Aurangabad, Bhojpur, Buxar, Gaya, Gopalganj, Kaimur, Rohtas, Saran, Siwan and West Champaran. The locusts...

-Down to Earth Researchers yet to find the source of uranium in groundwater A new study conducted by the University of Manchester, UK and Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Phulwarisharif in Patna has found uranium contaminating the groundwater in 10 districts of Bihar. It took one-and-a-half years for the researchers to come to the conclusion. They are yet to find out the source of uranium in groundwater. Supaul, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Patna, Nalanda,...