Patna: Due to heavy rainfall in the upper reaches of the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and the abnormal rise in the Sone river, which meets the Ganga at Maner, flood threat to the low-lying northern areas of Patna has become serious, particularly from Sunday onwards.The Sone river was flowing 3 cm above the danger mark at Maner and is expected to rise by another 23 cm on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Ganga was flowing above danger level at Digha and Gandhi Ghat in Patna, and also at Hathidah, around 100 km downstream. The Central Water Commission (CWC) predicted a further rise of 25 cm at Digha and Gandhi Ghat and 29 cm at Hathidah on Sunday.Given the situation, the Patna district administration and disaster management department have prepared for rescue and relief operations. SDOs and circle officers along the Ganga and Punpun rivers have been put on alert. Punpun continues to flow above danger mark at Sripalpur.The administration has identified 119 high-level grounds for setting up relief camps and community kitchens. Two SDRF teams are on high alert, with one NDRF team on standby. Additionally, 243 private boats, along with an equal number of boatmen and divers, are on alert.Sandbags have been stacked along vulnerable points of the Patna Town Protection (PTP) wall from Patna to Danapur.With rising water levels in Prayagraj and Varanasi, the Ganga is surging dangerously along the 225 km stretch from Buxar to Hathidah.Water discharge from Indrapuri barrage dropped from 5.32 lakh cusecs on Friday to 2.27 lakh on Saturday.
