Buxar district administration has ordered a coordinated preparedness plan for Chhath at the town’s river ghats, combining sanitation, road repairs, lighting, medical support, rescue teams, CCTV monitoring and traffic control with a planned laser light and sound show.
District magistrate Sahila directed the executive officer of Buxar Nagar Parishad to make arrangements for the show and asked senior officials to adopt at least one Chhath ghat in their respective blocks. The officials have been instructed to ensure that devotees can access essential facilities at the locations under their supervision.
Municipal bodies and block administrations have been directed to clean the ghats, repair approach roads and level riverbanks before the festival. The preparations also include adequate lighting, barricading, changing rooms, drinking water and toilet facilities. These measures are intended to address both access and basic public amenities at the riverfront locations used by devotees.
The energy department has been asked to ensure safe power arrangements at the ghats. The health department will deploy medical teams and ensure the availability of ambulances and medicines during the celebrations. The district administration has also directed the disaster management department to deploy trained divers and rescue teams at vulnerable locations.
Police officials have been instructed to maintain adequate security at important ghats, regulate traffic, manage crowds and conduct regular patrolling. CCTV cameras will be used to monitor activities at key locations, adding an additional layer of surveillance during a festival that brings large numbers of people to riverfront areas.
The instructions place responsibility across several departments rather than assigning preparations solely to municipal authorities. The district administration has directed the departments to coordinate their work, conduct regular inspections and identify shortcomings at the ghats before they affect devotees or visitors.
The district magistrate said the safety and convenience of Chhath devotees and visitors would remain the administration’s top priority. The next stage of the plan involves departmental inspections and completion of the prescribed arrangements at the ghats before the celebrations.
