Remain prepared to tackle floods: Nitish

Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday conducted an aerial survey of West Champaran, East Champaran and Gopalganj districts to assess the rising water levels in several rivers.
Water levels in several rivers of these districts have risen remarkably following release of huge rainwater from the Valmikinagar-based Gandak barrage and continuous rainfall in their catchment areas over the past few days.All major rivers in these three districts, including Gandak, Burhi Gandak and Lal Bakeya, originate from the neighbouring Nepal.
The CM also inspected water level at the Gandak barrage at Valmikinagar and issued necessary instructions to the officials.
During the inspection and review of the water level, the CM said the water resources department (WRD) should remain vigilant and keep monitoring constantly the water level in the rivers and overall situation in the region.
“The district magistrates will ensure continuous monitoring of the situation in the low-lying areas where the level of floodwaters is showing rising trend. The WRD engineers should remain alert and senior officials will camp in the affected areas,” Nitish said.
He added, “The detailed instructions, which have already been issued to all district magistrates and departments concerned as per the standard operation procedures (SOP) must be literally followed.”
The CM said the district administration should prepare for operation of boats, availability of relief materials, polythene sheets, medicines, fodder, packets of dry ration as well as necessary arrangements at the flood relief centres, so that people could be provided immediate relief in case of any emergency.
Nitish directed the disaster management department to regularly review additional measures to alleviate difficulties faced by flood-affected people.
WRD minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, principal secretary to the CM Deepak Kumar, development commissioner-cum ACS (WRD) Chaitanya Prasad, ACS of disaster management department Pratyaya Amrit, West Champaran DM Dinesh Kumar Rai, Bagaha SP Sushant Kumar Saroj, and several senior officials from WRD and district administration accompanied the CM, as per a communique from the chief minister’s office.