Patna: The district administration went into alert mode as the Ganga touched the danger level at Digha and was flowing around 72cm above danger level at Gandhi Ghat in Patna. Even the Punpun river climbed 2m above danger level on Wednesday evening, threatening Patna with floods.

Patna district magistrate Kumar Ravi said the administration was on continuous alert in the wake of the rising Ganga waters and all sub-divisional officers (SDOs) and circle officers (COs) have been asked to initiate immediate rescue and relief operations if flood waters enter any village.

"All sub-divisional and block development officers have been asked to monitor the embankments along the rivers. All engineers of the water resources department have been asked to send hourly updates to the additional district magistrate (disaster management) and district confidential section," Ravi said.

The situation has worsened as the Ganga and Punpun are both showing a rising trend after heavy rainfall. Ganga waters have already engulfed the riverfront along its banks at Anta Ghat and nearby.

The river was flowing above danger level at Hathidah downstream in Patna district, Bhagalpur and Katihar. The levels are expected to rise further. Water from various barrages over the Sone, Gandak and Kosi will worsen it.

The Bagmati was flowing above danger level in Samastipur and Khagaria districts, while the Adhwara was above danger in Darbhanga. Kosi river, called "Sorrow of Bihar" was flowing 33cm above danger at Kursela in Katihar. Smaller rivers in north and south Bihar were also in spate.