Hundreds of Families Struggle as Bhagalpur’s Powerloom Sector Halts

Bhagalpur’s powerloom cluster, a cornerstone of Bihar’s textile output, has come to a grinding halt after floodwaters entered the workshops. In Nathnagar and Champanagar, water seeped into the lower floors of loom houses, forcing workers to shut down machines for safety.

The immediate impact is a loss of daily wages for thousands of labourers who normally earn between 400 and 500 rupees a day. This income supports household expenses, school fees and medical needs. With production stalled, the weavers are unable to fulfill the surge of orders that arrived ahead of Dussehra and Diwali, orders that were expected to bring substantial earnings.

The affected neighborhoods—Masjid Lane, Boring Badi, Madani Nagar and several adjacent lanes—are still under water, and officials estimate around five thousand individuals are directly impacted. Many families have relocated temporarily to relatives’ homes, confronting the harsh reality of safeguarding both shelter and livelihood.

Compounding the crisis, the weavers’ capital reserves, saved over years for construction projects and children’s education, are being drawn down to meet daily expenses. The community reports a lack of sufficient governmental relief, leaving them to cope with both property damage and the loss of a long‑standing source of employment.

If the water does not recede soon, the disruption could spread beyond the local market, affecting the broader supply chain for festival apparel across the state.