Dark clouds signalling the approach of tropical cyclone Nilofar have cast a shadow on Chhath, the state’s biggest festival that involves worship of the Sun God.

The state is all geared up to start observing the four-day mahaparv (mega festival) with Nahay-Khay on Monday though the Sun has been unable to cut through dark clouds in most parts of the state in the past two days.

The low-level convective clouds, lying merely 3km above the earth’s surface, caused light to moderate rain at many places in the state on Sunday. The gauge at the Patna meteorological centre recorded 18mm precipitation in the city.

Weathermen have attributed the overcast conditions to the induced effect of a depression in the Andaman Sea, which is expected to develop into tropical cyclone Nilofar (meaning lotus) by Tuesday.

Though Nilofar, named by Pakistan, is expected to move west of India, towards Oman on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula but hazy skies are expected in the state till Thursday. However, the possibility of showers has been ruled out completely.

On Wednesday evening, devotees would offer the pehli arghya to the Sun God by standing in waist-deep water.

“The clouds, accompanied by rain, on Sunday were the result of a low-pressure area formed over central India because of the induced effect of the depression in Arabian Sea. Though the low-pressure area is expected to neutralise with the depression in the Andaman Sea developing into cyclone Nilofar by Tuesday and moving towards Oman but partly cloudy skies are expected to prevail over Bihar till Thursday owing to the remaining moisture content,” said R.K. Giri, a meteorologist at the Patna meteorological centre.

Oman, where Nilofar is likely to made landfall, had previously named cyclone Hudhud, which smashed India’s southeastern coast on October 12 and 13.

According to the conditions on Sunday, Nilofar seemed to be standing in the way of Chhath, making a few residents apprehensive about the festival.

“The weather during Chhath is normally bright with a nip in the air. However, cloudy conditions can act as a dampener as Chhath is mainly about worshipping the Sun God. If it rains at the time of arghya (obeisance) at the ghats, what will happen?” said Prakash Kumar of Ashiana Nagar.

Ghat preparedness

The preparation for the mahaparv was on in full swing on Sunday. Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi along with ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Samrat Chaudhary apart from senior officials, including chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, surveyed the Ganga banks, starting from Nasriganj Ghat at Danapur to Gai Ghat in Patna City on Sunday morning.

Though a lot of work, including barricading, lighting and maintenance of approach road among others, is still to be completed at a number of ghats but Manjhi expressed satisfaction about the preparedness.

A day before Nahay-Khay, fruit shops on Bailey Road, Ashok Rajpath and several other places were jam-packed and the prices of fruits and vegetables went north. Bottle gourd, popularly known as lauki, quite essential on Nahay-Khay sold for Rs 70-80 per kg. Apple sold for Rs 85-90 a kg.

Tight security

Around 5,000 security personnel, including 10 additional superintendents of police, 25 deputy superintendents of police and 100 inspectors, would be deployed at different ghats in both urban and rural areas of the district.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jitendra Rana said 20 anti-sabotage teams would be deployed to carry surprise inspection on sensitive ghats. The administration has also identified 15 points in the city, which would be sealed within minutes of any terrorist attack, he said.

The SSP revealed that temporary structures have been erected at some places to counter the attack, if any. The town has already been put on alert in the wake of intelligence reports that suspected terrorists may attack at public places. “Gun-toting personnel have been deployed at all government installations and places of worship,” he said.

A separate wireless station has been set up temporarily to monitor the security arrangements. “As the police information room (PIR) network, which is primarily meant for regulating law and order in the city, remains busy, we have decided to start a separate wireless communication system for the period,” Rana told The Telegraph.

The administration has made elaborate arrange-ments to check the spread of rumours.