Patna, Sep 3 (IANS) Amid the continuously rising water level of the Ganga and the growing threat of flooding in Bihar, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inspected the river on Thursday and reviewed the situation.
He assessed the rising water levels and issued necessary directions to officials, instructing them to ensure that people face minimal inconvenience and that all precautionary measures are completed in advance to protect lives and property.
Former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also toured Patna and adjoining areas on Thursday to assess the flood situation.
He visited JP Setu to inspect the rising water level and flow of the Ganga before travelling to Saran to assess the river’s condition there.
Nitish Kumar also visited the six-lane bridge over the Ganga connecting Patna and Raghopur, where he reviewed the river’s flow and water level.
JD(U) National Working President, Sanjay Jha, accompanied him during the inspection.
Speaking to reporters, Sanjay Jha said water levels in most of Bihar’s major rivers, including the Ganga, had risen rapidly.
He attributed the situation partly to heavy rainfall and flooding in Nepal, which has increased the flow of rivers entering Bihar.
Jha said the state government had taken precautionary measures after receiving information about the surge in water from Nepal, which had helped prevent major loss of life and property so far.
He credited the proactive efforts of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and the Water Resources Department for taking timely measures to deal with the situation.
Jha said Nitish Kumar was concerned about the rising level of the Ganga and, therefore, personally reviewed the situation in Patna.
He noted that the river’s water level had surpassed the Highest Flood Level (HFL) recorded in Patna in 2016.
Despite the rise, Jha said Patna had experienced comparatively less disruption because water management and protection measures in areas falling within the river’s flow path had been strengthened over the past several years.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary conducted a high-level review of Bihar’s flood situation through video conferencing from the Water Resources Department’s Command and Control Centre.
During the review, he assessed river water levels and reports of cracks, damage and breaches in embankments across different districts.
He directed officials to remain on alert day and night and ensure immediate action in vulnerable areas.
The situation involving the Punpun and Dardha rivers in South Bihar was also reviewed.
Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said the rising Ganga had resulted in breaches at several locations in Bhagalpur and triggered rapid erosion along the riverbank, creating a serious situation in the district.
Water Resources Department teams have been deployed extensively in Bhagalpur and other vulnerable areas to control the situation.
Emergency measures are being undertaken to strengthen embankments, including the deployment of mega geo-bags with the assistance of steamers to counter strong currents and erosion.
Officials and engineers from the Water Resources Department have been stationed directly at vulnerable embankments to oversee protection work.
At the same time, river and embankment conditions across Bihar are being monitored in real time from the Command and Control Centre in Patna to facilitate an immediate response to emergencies.
Vijay Kumar Chaudhary warned that the flood season would continue and that the threat could persist until early October.
He said the next one to one-and-a-half months would remain particularly challenging for the Water Resources Department and the state government.
According to data recorded on the morning of September 3, the Ganga was flowing above the danger mark at several locations in Patna and surrounding areas.
At Gandhi Ghat, the river was recorded at 49.71 metres, against a danger mark of 48.60 metres, putting it around 1.11 metres above the danger level.
At Hathidah in Mokama, the water level reached 42.96 metres, compared with a danger mark of 41.76 metres.
The river was, therefore, around 1.20 metres above the danger mark at Hathidah.
The water level at Digha Ghat was recorded at 51.60 metres. Another figure of 50.21 metres was also reported for Gandhi Ghat, although the latest official reading should be treated as the authoritative figure.
The Disaster Management Department has issued an alert in view of the rising Ganga.
According to forecasts from the Water Resources Department, the river at Gandhi Ghat could cross the Highest Flood Level on Thursday night.
Similarly, the Ganga at Hathidah in Mokama is expected to cross the HFL by the afternoon of September 4.
The administration has, therefore, been directed to remain fully prepared and exercise special caution in riverside and low-lying areas.
Residents of vulnerable areas in Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Nalanda, Begusarai, Lakhisarai and Jehanabad have been urged to remain alert and follow all instructions issued by the administration.
The Disaster Management Department has appealed to people not to take unnecessary risks near rivers and to cooperate with officials in the event of evacuation or other emergency measures.
–IANS
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