Patna: The rising Ganga has put Patna and several adjoining districts on high alert with the water resources department forecasting that the river may cross its highest flood level at Gandhi Ghat in Patna and Hathidah in Mokama.People living in low-lying areas of Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Nalanda, Begusarai, Lakhisarai and Jehanabad have been urged to remain alert. Disaster management department principal secretary Santosh Kumar Mall directed officials to maintain heightened vigilance and act promptly under standard operating procedures.“If necessary, people living in affected or vulnerable areas would be evacuated immediately to safer locations with the assistance of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF),” Santosh said.The department advised residents to stay away from rivers, ghats and waterlogged areas, keep emergency supplies ready, avoid rumours and contact helpline 1070 during emergencies.The Ganga was flowing at 49.83 metres at Gandhi Ghat, 1.23 metres above the danger mark. At Digha Ghat, it stood at 51.01 metres, 56 cm above the danger mark, while Hathidah recorded 42.06 metres, 30 cm above the danger mark.District magistrate Kundan Kumar, SP Kartikeya K Sharma and municipal commissioner Yashpal Meena, along with senior officials, inspected vulnerable stretches from Digha Ghat to Bind Toli, LCT Ghat, Gosain Tola and the Patna Town Protection Wall on Thursday.Kundan directed officials to ensure floodwater did not enter city areas and ordered the closure of all 108 openings in the Patna Town Protection Wall. Seepage detected at some locations was ordered to be plugged, while all 13 sluice gates and drainage pumping stations were placed under continuous watch.Special measures were ordered near Sadakat Ashram and in Patliputra Colony. The administration has also strengthened vulnerable locations in Athmalgola, Khusrupur, Mokama and Punpun.Four relief camps and five animal shelters have been set up, while 66 boats are operating free of cost in vulnerable areas. SDRF teams, divers and motorboats have been deployed at strategic locations.Meanwhile, the Punpun crossed its danger mark, reaching 52 cm against the 50 cm threshold. Bank erosion in Baraiyako panchayat damaged a road and threatened 70 to 75 houses housing around 250 people.The swollen Ganga has also flooded the under-construction Waste to Wonder Park near Bans Ghat, submerging replicas of Golghar and Mahabodhi temple and disrupting finishing work on the Rs 15 crore project.“Officials have been directed to remain on 24-hour alert and maintain the shortest possible response time to minimise any potential loss of life and property,” Kundan said.Barricades have been placed at Bhadr Ghat, Naujar Ghat and Mahavir Ghat with SDRF and SSB teams deployed with boats and divers. Patna City SDO Kashish Bakshi inspected affected areas and appealed to people and devotees to avoid restricted and barricaded stretches.
