Patna, Sep 3: Amid the continuously rising water level of the Ganga and the growing threat of flooding in Bihar, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inspected the river on Thursday and reviewed the situation.

He assessed the rising water levels and issued necessary directions to officials, instructing them to ensure that people face minimal inconvenience and that all precautionary measures are completed in advance to protect lives and property.

Former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also toured Patna and adjoining areas on Thursday to assess the flood situation.

He visited JP Setu to inspect the rising water level and flow of the Ganga before travelling to Saran to assess the river’s condition there.

Nitish Kumar also visited the six-lane bridge over the Ganga connecting Patna and Raghopur, where he reviewed the river’s flow and water level.

JD(U) National Working President, Sanjay Jha, accompanied him during the inspection.

Speaking to reporters, Sanjay Jha said water levels in most of Bihar’s major rivers, including the Ganga, had risen rapidly.

He attributed the situation partly to heavy rainfall and flooding in Nepal, which has increased the flow of rivers entering Bihar.

Jha said the state government had taken precautionary measures after receiving information about the surge in water from Nepal, which had helped prevent major loss of life and property so far.

He credited the proactive efforts of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and the Water Resources Department for taking timely measures to deal with the situation.

Jha said Nitish Kumar was concerned about the rising level of the Ganga and, therefore, personally reviewed the situation in Patna.

He noted that the river’s water level had surpassed the Highest Flood Level (HFL) recorded in Patna in 2016.

Despite the rise, Jha said Patna had experienced comparatively less disruption because water management and protection measures in areas falling within the river’s flow path had been strengthened over the past several years.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary conducted a high-level review of Bihar’s flood situation through video conferencing from the Water Resources Department’s Command and Control Centre.

During the review, he assessed river water levels and reports of cracks, damage and breaches in embankments across different districts.

He directed officials to remain on alert day and night and ensure immediate action in vulnerable areas.

The situation involving the Punpun and Dardha rivers in South Bihar was also reviewed.

Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said the rising Ganga had resulted in breaches at several locations in Bhagalpur and triggered rapid erosion along the riverbank, creating a serious situation in the district.

Water Resources Department teams have been deployed extensively in Bhagalpur and other vulnerable areas to control the situation.

Emergency measures are being undertaken to strengthen embankments, including the deployment of mega geo-bags with the assistance of steamers to counter strong currents and erosion.

Officials and engineers from the Water Resources Department have been stationed directly at vulnerable embankments to oversee protection work.

At the same time, river and embankment conditions across Bihar are being monitored in real time from the Command and Control Centre in Patna to facilitate an immediate response to emergencies.

Vijay Kumar Chaudhary warned that the flood season would continue and that the threat could persist until early October.

He said the next one to one-and-a-half months would remain particularly challenging for the Water Resources Department and the state government.

According to data recorded on the morning of September 3, the Ganga was flowing above the danger mark at several locations in Patna and surrounding areas.

At Gandhi Ghat, the river was recorded at 49.71 metres, against a danger mark of 48.60 metres, putting it around 1.11 metres above the danger level.

At Hathidah in Mokama, the water level reached 42.96 metres, compared with a danger mark of 41.76 metres.

The river was, therefore, around 1.20 metres above the danger mark at Hathidah.

The water level at Digha Ghat was recorded at 51.60 metres. Another figure of 50.21 metres was also reported for Gandhi Ghat, although the latest official reading should be treated as the authoritative figure.

The Disaster Management Department has issued an alert in view of the rising Ganga.

According to forecasts from the Water Resources Department, the river at Gandhi Ghat could cross the Highest Flood Level on Thursday night.

Similarly, the Ganga at Hathidah in Mokama is expected to cross the HFL by the afternoon of September 4.

The administration has, therefore, been directed to remain fully prepared and exercise special caution in riverside and low-lying areas.

Residents of vulnerable areas in Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Nalanda, Begusarai, Lakhisarai and Jehanabad have been urged to remain alert and follow all instructions issued by the administration.

The Disaster Management Department has appealed to people not to take unnecessary risks near rivers and to cooperate with officials in the event of evacuation or other emergency measures.

Hyderabad, Sep 3: Telangana BJP president Ramchander Rao and several senior party leaders were detained by Hyderabad Police on Thursday while attempting to stage a protest at the Telangana State Secretariat over pending student fee reimbursement dues.

The BJP leaders had sought permission to enter the Secretariat and submit a representation to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, demanding the release of pending fee reimbursement funds for students.

However, police stopped the protesters, including activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), at the Secretariat’s main gate. The leaders insisted on meeting the Chief Minister and entering the premises, but security personnel denied permission.

As the protesters refused to disperse, some allegedly attempted to scale the closed gate, leading to a brief scuffle with security personnel. Police subsequently detained Ramchander Rao, BJP Legislature Party leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy, MP D.K. Aruna and several others.

While Ramchander Rao was shifted to Chikkadpally Police Station, D.K. Aruna was taken to Gandhi Nagar Police Station.

Reacting to his detention, Ramchander Rao said the BJP would continue its agitation until all pending dues are released. In a post on X, he alleged that the Congress government had “arrested the voice of 40 lakh students” awaiting fee reimbursement and vowed to continue the fight for their rights.

In another post, the Telangana BJP chief claimed that around 40 lakh students had been adversely affected due to the non-release of pending fee reimbursement dues, which he pegged at Rs 15,000 crore. He said he had earlier undertaken a hunger strike, written to the Chief Minister and collected eight lakh signatures from students seeking the clearance of the dues.

According to the BJP leader, he had sought an appointment with the Chief Minister through a letter dated August 31 to submit representations from students. However, after receiving no response, he and other party leaders proceeded to the Secretariat and launched the protest when they were denied entry.

New Delhi, Sep 3: Following the appointment of Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra (Retd.) as the CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, BJP on Thursday welcomed the decision, while some opposition leaders raised concerns over transparency, accountability and alleged irregularities.

BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh congratulated Mishra on his appointment and said that he had played a significant role in Operation Sindoor and secured victory for India.

“Congratulations to Jeetendra Mishra. Jeetendra Mishra ji led Operation Sindoor and secured victory for India. We expect that he will handle this new responsibility in the same manner and also bring transparency here,” he told media.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam said the Ram Mandir is a place of faith and reverence for crores of Hindu devotees and followers of Lord Ram. He said the temple represents the successful culmination of a 500-year-long struggle and wait.

Kadam said, “The Ram Mandir is a place of faith and reverence for crores of Hindu devotees and followers of Lord Ram. It represents the successful culmination of a 500-year-long struggle and wait. Over 6,000 applications were received for the CEO position, and the selection process sought an individual who embodies a blend of faith in Hinduism and patriotism. Mishra, who has been appointed, played a significant role in Operation Sindoor.”

BJP MP Santosh Pandey said, “Certainly, we are proud that such a patriotic and honest person, who dedicated 43 years of his life to serving the motherland, has been appointed. With complete dedication, he boosted the morale of the Army and successfully carried out Operation Sindoor. It was a successful operation, and it was praised globally.”

BJP National Spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan said the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is an autonomous and independent institution and has its own rules regarding appointments.

“It is a trust, and the trust has its own rules. It is an autonomous and independent institution, and any person can be appointed to the trust. I remember that the late Kameshwar Chaupal from Bihar was also part of that trust,” Paswan said.

BJP West Bengal President Samik Bhattacharya said Mishra would oversee the grand construction of the Ram Temple and ensure that the work is carried out properly.

“Jeetendra Mishra is presenting the grand construction of the Ram Temple before the country and will oversee it properly,” Bhattacharya said.

Chhattisgarh Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal described Mishra’s appointment as a matter of great coincidence and good fortune, highlighting his association with Operation Sindoor and his stature as a capable officer.

“Look, it is a matter of great coincidence and good fortune for all of us that retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, who was also a part of Operation Sindoor, and such a capable person is being appointed as the CEO of the Ram Temple Trust. He holds a prominent stature not only nationally but also in the global arena,” Jaiswal said.

He further said that Mishra’s appointment would help ensure that such incidents as those witnessed in the past would not occur again.

“I feel that, given the incidents that took place in the past, no one will even be able to think about such incidents occurring again,” he added.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Narendra Kashyap said, “I think the decision of the Trust to appoint Jeetendra Mishra as the CEO is better. Because a person who has played a major role in ‘Operation Sindoor’ is certainly a patriot, a nationalist, and someone who works for the country. So, in my view, handing over the command to such a person is a better decision.”

JD(U) National General Secretary Shyam Rajak also welcomed the appointment, saying that replacing officials when irregularities are reported can be a step towards improving the functioning of an institution.

“When there are irregularities, people are removed, and new individuals are brought in for the better. So, a new CEO has been appointed. He is an honest officer who played a role in Operation Sindoor. A military officer of this caliber has been made the CEO; it is a good move. This should be appreciated, and a close watch should be kept on everything,” Rajak said.

Former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said Mishra had performed well during Operation Sindoor but cautioned that the responsibilities of the new position would be different.

“As has been said, he worked during Operation Sindoor and did a good job. But the situation here is different. There are hidden enemies here, so some caution will have to be exercised,” Singh said.

Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar welcomed Mishra’s appointment, noting that the former Air Marshal is from Bhopatpura village in the Bhatpar Rani Assembly constituency, which falls within his parliamentary constituency.

“Jeetendra Mishra is from Bhopatpura village in the Bhatpar Rani Assembly constituency of my parliamentary constituency, and he has been given a major challenge. I welcome him,” Rajbhar said.

However, he alleged that officers in the state face pressure from the government and said that this would make the CEO’s new responsibility particularly challenging.

“In a state where IAS and IPS officers are unable to work freely, the government puts pressure on them, and officers are resigning due to that pressure; this is a major challenge for the CEO,” he said.

Rajbhar also raised concerns over alleged irregularities surrounding the Ram Temple, saying devotees and saints in Ayodhya had raised concerns, especially the alleged theft of offerings and incidents allegedly being suppressed for months.

“Crores of Hindus across the country and all the saints and seers of Ayodhya who revere Lord Ram have raised concerns… An SIT was formed by the UP government and another at the national level,” he said.

He expressed hope that Mishra would protect the temple’s funds and work independently.

“Now that he has become CEO, I wish him well. May he serve Lord Ram and protect Ram’s funds so that no one can loot them. He can meet this challenge only by refusing to bow to pressure from those in power. Only by removing the pressure that the authorities are under can anyone truly serve Lord Ram, the embodiment of righteousness,” Rajbhar said.

Congress MLA Nana Patole, meanwhile, criticised the appointment and alleged that saints had expressed reservations about the manner in which the Ram Temple’s affairs were being handled.

“Saints have insisted that this work belongs to the saints. Some saints are not even willing to accept it as the Ram Temple; saints have started saying that this has become a site of looting for the BJP and RSS,” Patole said.

He alleged that the government had a responsibility to respect saints and religion, while accusing the BJP and RSS of exploiting people’s faith in the Ram Temple.

“Therefore, respecting saints and religion is the government’s responsibility. However, the RSS and BJP just want to exploit people’s faith in the Ram Temple and loot their money, and the government is protecting them,” he added.