BARUNI

also spelled Barauni, or Beruni town, north-central Bihar state, northeastern India. It lies north of the Ganges River and is part of the Begusarai urban agglomeration. Formerly called Jhuldabhaj, it merged with Phulwaria township in 1961. It has major highway, rail, and ferry connections and is an agricultural trade centre. Baruni is chiefly an industrial complex, with a petroleum refinery and a thermal power plant. The town is the site of a college affiliated with Bhagalpur University. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 60,668.