Massive crowds expected as Bihar readies riverbanks for Chhath; barricades, lighting, and divers deployed

The festive calendar in Bihar moves swiftly from Diwali’s fireworks to the solemn rituals of Chhath, prompting a rapid mobilisation of municipal crews across the state. Starting in Patna and extending to Gaya, the district administration has launched a comprehensive programme that includes sweeping, repairing, and fortifying river ghats ahead of the expected throng of worshippers. Patna’s District Magistrate, Kundan Kumar, has stressed that every ghat must be ready on time, calling for robust wooden and concrete barricades that extend into the water to meet safety depth standards. Any ghat classified as hazardous will be clearly flagged with a red banner and the words “dangerous ghat”, while organized parking bays, road resurfacing and smoother traffic routes are being put in place. The plan also covers full‑scale lighting, decorative motifs, thorough sanitation, drinking‑water kiosks, gender‑specific changing rooms, a public‑address system and a central command room at each venue. To guard against accidents, SDRF and NDRF units, together with certified divers, will be positioned at the most frequented ghats; police personnel and senior administrators will remain on standby for crowd control and rapid medical response. In Gaya, District Magistrate Shashank Shubankar and Additional SP Sushil Kumar inspected the major ghats on Monday, directing the construction of reinforced barricades, watch towers, proper illumination and changing facilities at Pitamahaeshwar Ghat and the upstream Manas Tank. Pitamahaeshwar Ghat, which can draw over 50,000 devotees, will see iron sheeting over existing drains and a reinforced approach road to minimise bottlenecks. At Suryakund Ghat, officials have prepared to divert surplus pilgrims to the Falgu River ghats, with SDRF teams ready to manage the additional flow. Water purification, strengthening of barriers and refurbishing of changing rooms have also been ordered at Gaya Dam and Devghat. Traditional Chhath bhajans will be broadcast, and further inspections were carried out at sites like Sita Kund, Manpur Surya Pokhar, Kendu and the Polytechnic ghat for debris removal, drainage clearing, path leveling and signage. The administration has given a clear deadline: finish every safety and comfort measure before the first day of Chhath, ensuring that worshippers can perform the arghya ceremony in a secure, well‑organized environment.