DELUGE IN PATNA

A belated monsoon rains since Friday night turned the Bihar capital, Patna, into a virtual lake paralysing normal activities on Saturday. The deluge ravaged all modes of transportation including waterways, railways and roadways. A team of National Disaster Response Force personnel rushed to rescue the marooned people from central Patna’s Kadamkuan area where once Jayaprakash Narayan lived.

Rajendra Nagar residence of the deputy CM, Sushil Kumar Modi, also became inaccessible due to waterlogging. Boats were pressed into service in Rajendra Nagar, a hub of colleges and schools.

Official bungalow of the PWD Minister, Nand Kishore Yadav, is also under kneedeep water. Offices of Patna municipal at Bankipore and Kankarbagh are also bearing the brunt of heavy rains as water entered the chambers of the mayor and others.

CM Kumar reviewed the situation with chief secretary Dipak Kumar. He said, “People should be cautioned as heavy rains would continue over the next two days and situation may worsen.”

Patients admitted in the premier government hospital, NMCH, were dischrged, as water touched the beds and fishes started flowing in the wards. Patients in ICU were moved to third floor.

In over a dozen north Bihar districts, red alert has been sounded following the Met department forecast heavy rains and increase in water levels of all rivers. All schools and colleges in 12 districts will remain closed for two days as a precaution.