Ganga still flowing above red mark at Digha, Gandhi ghats

Patna: The Ganga was flowing 2.17 metre above the danger mark at 50.77 metre near the Digha ghat and .98 metre above the red mark at 49.52m at the Gandhi Ghat in Patna while flood situation in north Bihar districts slightly improved on Tuesday. Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said the water level at Gandhi ghat was receding by .5cm per hour.

“The water level in river Sone is also receding at Maner and Koelwar. Altogether 65 boats have been deployed and adequate security personnel have been stationed near Gandhi Ghat to prevent river adventure sports,” Agarwal said.

River Sone was also flowing above the red mark in Maner and Ghaghra was in spate at Gangpur-Siswan in Siwan district. Disaster management department (DMD) sources said water level was receding in Purnia, Kishanganj, Araria, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Saharsa, Gopalganj, Supaul, East and West Champaran and Nalanda.

“The state DMD has directed all the district magistrates concerned to undertake safety measures and remain alert in view of the flood threat. While most of the diara areas in Patna district are flooded, the Ganga is still flowing above the danger mark at several places, including in the state capital,” DMD principal secretary Vyasji said.

“Young people often jump from high buildings or structures near the river banks to swim in the Ganga and get drowned. The district magistrates have been directed to depute cops on important ghats and make people aware of the consequences of misadventure,” Vyasji added.

The district administrations have been directed to stop plying of boats after 5.30pm. Boats, ambulances with doctors, medicines, halogen tablets for purifying water and other essential items have also been made available in the affected areas. NDRF teams have been deployed in Patna and Vaishali and an SDRF team has been deputed in Bhagalpur, DMD sources said.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Patna, Nalanda, Jehanabad and Gaya districts on Monday.

Akhil Bharatiya Badh, Sukhad and Katao-Pirit Sangharsh Morcha secretary Ram Bhajan Singh Yadav has appealed to the CM, Patna DM, and DMD principal secretary to distribute more relief materials in areas like Bind Toli and Nakta diara of Patna sadar block and Manas, Purani Panapur, Hetanpur, Ganghara and Patsapur under Danapur block and several areas in Maner block reeling under floodwaters.