Barricade all Ganga ghats in city for Chhath festival: DC

Patna: Divisional commissioner (DC) Kumar Ravi on Monday ordered to keep a regular watch on the water level in Ganga and barricade at all ghats as the prime safety of devotees offering prayers, standing in the holy water, to the Sun God on the occasion of Chhath festival.The direction came after the DC with IG central range Rakesh Rathi, DM Chandrashekhar Singh, SSP Rajeev Mishra, and Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar inspected over 75 ghats, both by waterway and road from Nasariganj in Danapur to Kangan Ghat in Patna City and the undergoing developments works at all the places.Presently, the water level of Ganga at Digha Ghat is 44.91 meters while that at Gandhi Ghat is 44.2 meters and it was declining further at 10cm every day, indicating a total decrease of up to one meter by Chhath festival.“The number of ghats this year is expected to be the same as the last year and preparations were afoot accordingly,” the DC said.The first evening ‘arghya’ of the festival to the Sun God would be offered on November 19 to be followed by the second to the rising Sun on the 20th morning.Chhath is the largest festival of devotion and faith in the state in which a large number of devotees, including those living in other states participate.The DC and IG said police and sector officers deputed at all ghats are supervising the undergoing development works. The DC also asked the officials to monitor works being done on approach paths to Ganga ghats and put up lights at all places. PMC has constituted special teams for putting up new street lights in all the wards.“Dangerous ghats must be barricaded with red curtains. Teams of electricity department were assigned the task to check all live wires and their connections on approach roads and ghats and ensure the safety of all gathered around,” Ravi said.Ganga ghats inspected by them included Bindtoli, Digha patipul, Shiva, Ramjichak Nahar, Bata, Jahaj, Nariyal, Fakkad Mahto, Nakta diara, Nasariganj, JP Setu, Minar, Kurji, LCT, Rajapur Pul, Collectorate, Mahendru, Kali Ghat, Patna College, Gandhi Ghat, Gulbi, Gai Ghat, and others.“All the ghats and approach roads would have signage marks, watch towers, separate changing rooms, and both NDRF and SDRF personnel would be deployed at all places,” he said.DM Chandrashekhar Singh said the district administration was initially making arrangements at 108 ghats from Danapur to the City but the actual number of safe and unsafe ghats would be declared in a few days. “Over 4,000 police personnel and 250 magistrates would be deputed on Chhath duty in the district,” the DM said.