District magistrate Abhay Kumar Singh and (right) divisional commissioner Narmadeshwar Lal inspect Mahendru Ghat on Wednesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

The district administration is leaving nothing to chance regarding Chhath ghats, having burnt its hands in the Gandhi Maidan stampede tragedy.

Newly appointed Patna divisional commissioner Narmadeshwar Lal and district magistrate (DM) Abhay Kumar Singh on Wednesday inspected the ghats to assess the ground reality. Chhath would be celebrated on October 29.

Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Kuldip Narayan, Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCo) managing director D.K. Shukla and the new Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP), Jitendra Rana, also accompanied them. The officials started their journey from Patipul Ghat in Digha around 9am followed by Jahaz Ghat, Chainpur Kothi, Nasriganj, Bans Ghat, Buddha Ghat, and others.

The team then moved towards Collecorate Ghat, Mahendru Ghat and Adalat Ghat. Kuldip was found briefing officials about measures to be followed. When the team reached Mahendru Ghat, Narm adeshwar said: “It seems work has not yet started over here.”

In reply, Kuldip said: “Sir, soon we would clean the ghat and build pontoon bridges.”

The divisional commissioner said: “Make sure all the gates at the ghats are open. The entry and exit points should be wide open.”

He also instructed officials to make arrangements for devotees, including proper lighting, adequate parking space, repair of an approach road towards the ghats, traffic management and crowd control, adequate deployment of police personnel and a control room.

At Adalat Ghat, Kuldip told Narmadeshwar of the stampede in which 18 people had died during 2012 Chhath. Kuldip said: “Sir, this is the ghat where the stampede tragedy had occurred in 2012. There had been a rumour of a live wire falling on a wooden bridge snapping power supply leading to darkness and the subsequent stampede.”

DM Abhay said: “Directions have been given to PMC, Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd and BUIDCo to manage Chhath. As I have taken charge in a different backdrop, my priority would be maintaining law and order and ensure the festival is celebrated peacefully.”

On risky ghats, Abhay said: “Water is receding. The water level would be different 15 days later. The administration would announce names of dangerous ghats four to five days prior to Chhath.”