Flood in Patna? Admn says no need to worry

PATNA: In the last 24 hours, the rising water level of the river Ganga has created panic among people residing in the entire stretch between Digha Ghat and Gandhi Ghat in Patna.
People residing in the low-lying areas of Patna, particularly in its western part, remained outside their houses throughout the night fearing that water could rush into their houses any moment.They were busy shifting their cars and motorbikes to safer places. In some of the residential areas, people have installed pumps to flush out gushing water in absence of any arrangement from the local administration.
The anger against failure of the district administration and irrigation department to take preventive measures to meet the flood-like situation was quite visible. K K Ghai, a resident of western Patna, criticised the district administration for not providing relief measures in time.
Residents of Ganga Tower in the LCT Ghat area in western Patna appeared to be worst-hit because of knee-deep water that has accumulated in the basement.
Fazal Naqvi, a resident of Ganga Tower, said that the residents of the apartment have kept on contacting the fire brigade office since Tuesday evening, but in vain. Patna district magistrate (DM) Deepak Prasad and other government officials reached only late in the night, he said, adding: This was after some local politicians informed Prasad about the situation.
The DM, who is on vigil since Tuesday night, said although nature is not in control of human hands, the administration is on alert. Doctors and veterinarians had been asked to remain on high alert to meet any critical situation, he said.
Prasad said the irrigation department has been asked to block all the sluice gates by sand bags so that water did not enter the town. The work regarding blocking the sluice gates is likely to be completed by late in the day, he added.
According to Prasad, over hundred boats had been deployed to ferry stranded people to safer places. Prasad also assured local people that if condition required, every one would be evacuated to safer places.
Later in the day, fire tenders were used to flush water from the basement of Ganga Tower so that electricity supply, stopped since Tuesday night, could be restored.
State vice president of the BJP Kiran Ghai and chief whip of the party in legislative assembly Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha visited the affected areas in western Patna.