National Disaster Response Force personnel inspect the water level of the Ganga near Collectorate Ghat on Friday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

The flood scare subsided partially on Friday as the water level of the Ganga receded at some parts and remained constant elsewhere.

“The water level of the river at Digha Ghat at 8am on Friday was 49.86m. The height of the river at the same time on Thursday was 50.8m. At Gandhi Ghat, the water level remained steady at 49.85m on Friday,” said a senior official of Central Water Commission.

The Telegraph had reported in its August 30, 2013 edition that the water level of the Ganga would start receding from Friday.

The flood fear looming large over the city because of continuous rise in the water level of the Ganga in the past few days had given tough time to the district administration as well as those residing in its vicinity. The river flooded some houses near its banks and the crematorium at Gulbi Ghat in the past few days. But the water started receding on Friday.

Digha resident Kamlesh Singh was visibly happy on Friday afternoon after the water level of the Ganga started declining at some places. “I am happy to hear that the Ganga has started receding. It has brought lot of relief as water was about to enter my house,” he said.

Additional secretary of disaster management department Rajeev Kumar Singh told The Telegraph: “The flood situation is steady in Patna. At some places the water has receded. We have taken all precautionary measures to deal with flood. All the anti-flood sluice gates in the city have been closed to ensure the river water did not enter the city.”

Water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said heavy discharge of water from Gandak, Kosi and Sone into the Ganga basin prompted the swelling of the river. “The flood situation is totally under control in Patna now. Some houses on the banks of the Ganga were flooded by the Ganga. The water is being drained out with the help of sump houses,” said Choudhary, who inspected few ghats on Wednesday.

He said the water level of the Ganga had started receding at Allahabad, Varanasi and Kanpur. Similar trend would be visible in the city as well in the coming days, he added.

Eight teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed in the Ganga to keep tabs on its water level. They are still patrolling the river even at night on boats.

The district administration also made adequate arrangements to counter flood-like situation.

N. Saravana Kumar said: “I have directed Patna Electric Supply Undertaking to provide uninterrupted power supply to all the sump houses in the city because it is important to pump out water from the flooded areas.”