With only two days remaining until the start of Chhath, the great festival of public faith which begins with the Nahay-Khay ritual, the district administration on Wednesday released a list of six dangerous and five unsuitable ghats based on the condition and water level of the Ganga.
Devotees and worshippers have been urged not to use these ghats for collecting water or making offerings. The administration has appealed to the public to perform Chhath puja only at authorised and safe ghats and to avoid the dangerous or unsuitable ghats under all circumstances.
According to the district administration, the ghats have been declared dangerous due to strong water currents, slippery banks, or excessive depth. Visiting these places could be fatal. The five ghats declared unsuitable have very low water levels and excessive mud and marsh, making offerings impossible and unsafe.
Decision On LCT Ghat Pending; Alternative Routes For Others
The access roads to two of the capital's main Chhath ghats, Collectorate and Mahendru, are still waterlogged. In light of this, the administration is preparing an alternative route from Collectorate Ghat to Mahendru Ghat. People will be able to park their vehicles at Gandhi Maidan and proceed to either ghat to make their offerings.
Meanwhile, a final decision on the safety of LCT Ghat has not yet been made as river erosion and depth are being assessed. An alternative arrangement is being made by constructing a pond at this ghat. A decision on whether it is safe or dangerous will be taken in one to two days.
List Of Restricted Ghats
Ghats Declared Dangerous:
- Kantahi Ghat
- RajapurPul Ghat
- Pahalwan Ghat
- Bans Ghat
- Buddha Ghat
- Naya Panchmukhi Chauraha Ghat
Ghats Declared Unsuitable:
- TN Banerjee Ghat
- Mishri Ghat
- Judges Ghat
- Adalat Ghat
- Gulbi Ghat
Administration Issues Guidelines And Emergency Numbers
To ensure the Chhath festival is concluded peacefully and safely, Divisional Commissioner Animesh Parashar, District Magistrate Dr. Thyagarajan SM, and Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena are continuously inspecting every ghat.
SDOs and SDPOs have been instructed to patrol the access routes to every ghat on foot and rectify all shortcomings. All basic arrangements are being ensured, with top priority given to security, parking, and lighting.
On Wednesday, the State Disaster Management Authority issued guidelines for devotee safety. The Patna district administration has also appealed to all Chhath devotees to follow the safety advice.
For emergencies or necessary information, the following numbers have been issued:
District Control Room: 0612-2219810, 0612-2219234, or Dial 112
State Disaster Management (Toll-Free): 1070
State Disaster Management (Other): 7070290170, 0612-2294204, or 0612-2294205
The administration has requested devotees to cooperate with the arrangements and to contact the helplines immediately in case of any emergency.
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Key Advice Issued For A Safe Chhath
- Do not cross the barricades at the ghats and maintain a safe distance from dangerous or deep-water ghats.
- Avoid fireworks at worship sites.
- Maintain cleanliness at the ghats and do not litter.
- Use only designated routes and park vehicles only in specified parking areas.
- Ensure that elderly people, disabled individuals, and young children have their home address and a phone number in their pockets.
- Do not spread or believe rumours.