People panic as Ganga water level increases

PATNA: The rising water level of Ganga in the last 24 hours has created panic among people residing in the entire stretch between Digha Ghat to Gandhi Ghat in the city.
People residing in the low-lying areas of Patna, particularly in the western part, remained outside their house throughout the night fearing that water may rush into it. People were busy shifting their cars and motorbikes to safer places.In some of the residential areas people have themselves installed pumps to flush out the gushing water in absence of any arrangement from the local administration.
The anger against the failure of district administration and irrigation department to take preventive measure to meet the flood like situation was also visible among the people. K K Ghai, a resident of western Patna, criticised the district administration for not providing relief measure on time.
The resident of the Ganga Tower in the LCT Ghat area in western Patna are worst-hit because of the knee-deep water that has accumulated in the basement.
Fazal Naqvi, a resident of Ganga Tower, said that the residents of the apartment kept on contacting the fire brigade office since Tuesday evening but in vain. The district magistrate, Deepak Prasad and other government officials reached only late in the night, he said adding "this was also after some local politicians informed Prasad about the situation".
The DM who is on vigil since Tuesday night said that the district administration is on alert. Doctors and veterinarians have been asked to be alert round the clock to meet any critical situation, he said.
Prasad said that the irrigation department has been asked to block all the sluice gates by sand bags so that water does not enter the town. The work of blocking the gate is likely to be completed by Wednesday night, he added.
According to Prasad over hundred boats have been deployed to ferry stranded people to safer places. Prasad also assured local people that if condition requires every one will be evacuated to safer place.