Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara: Bhojpur district administration has geared up to tackle the flood threat and initiated several preventive measures to meet the challenge. Bhojpur District Magistrate Birendra Prasad Yadav, at a meeting convened on Friday, directed all the officials concerned to keep vigil on the rising trend of river Ganga particularly under Shahpur, Ara, Barahara and Koelwar blocks, which are flood prone, with a warning of stern action if any dereliction of duty was detected at any stage. He directed the officials of Disaster management department to submit their reports weekly to the office of the DM and SDO.
The DM said that the flood affected people would be given all types of help and asked officials to prepare data of affected villages, blocks, population and relief given to them during 2013 flood that continued for 45 days. He also told them to identify the areas submerged and shelter points in 2013 through resource mapping. He also asked them to store medicines for human beings and cattle in plenty, polythene bags and sheets, bleaching powder and other necessary materials in advace. He also directed them to arrange boats, candles, dry foods packets and identify places where handpumps should be installed during flood.
The DM also asked the fficials concerned to collect mobile numbers of mukhias, Aanganwadi sevikas and sahayikas, Aanganwadi centres and the Public Distribution System for use during flood. He directed all the officials to be attentive and provide all possible help to the flood affected people in their respective areas.
The DM directed the Block development officers (BDOs) and Circle Officers (COs), officials of disaster management and Flood Control to keep 24×7 vigil on rising trend of Ganga and measure regularly the water level of the river particularly from Shahpur to Bindgawa. He also told them to locate the breaches, if any, in dam and repair them before flood so that relief reached in time. He also ordered for deployment of police personnel at every one kilometre on the embankment.