The impact of Cyclone Arnab, which originated in the Bay of Bengal, is now clearly visible in North Bihar's Sitamarhi and Sheohar districts. Intermittent rainfall over the past two days has created a severe crisis for the ripe paddy crops in the fields. Strong winds have flattened standing paddy in many areas, while harvested crops left in the fields are getting soaked by the rain.

Waterlogging in the fields poses significant challenges for farmers in harvesting, collecting, and transporting their crops to safe locations. Approximately 1.35 lakh hectares of paddy cultivation in both districts are feared to be affected by this adverse weather. Sitamarhi recorded an average of 19.7 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, with Bathnaha receiving the highest at 24.4 mm and Sursand the lowest at 14.6 mm.

Continuous rain has disrupted daily life from cities to villages. Waterlogging on roads and streets has made commuting difficult. Furthermore, strong winds and rain have repeatedly disrupted power supply in several areas, affecting household chores, shops, and small businesses.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Sitamarhi due to the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall, while an orange alert has been issued for Sheohar and surrounding districts. The IMD has warned of adverse weather conditions, including strong winds, thunderstorms, and lightning, until Saturday. Special vigilance is advised for the next 24 hours, and farmers have been advised to avoid going to their fields.

The impact of this cyclonic rain is not limited to the Kharif crop. After paddy harvesting, farmers prepare for sowing mustard, potatoes, and Rabi maize. However, continuous moisture and waterlogging in the fields may delay land preparation, potentially affecting the sowing time of Rabi crops and their production. Thus, the current rainfall threatens to not only save the ready Kharif produce but also disrupt the next cropping cycle for farmers.