Pre-monsoon rain: BUIDCO deploys teams, machines to tackle Patna waterlogging

Patna: The Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO) on Friday deployed drainage machinery and personnel across the city to tackle waterlogging after early morning rainfall, using the exercise as a pre-monsoon trial run, officials said.All 91 drainage pumping stations — 56 permanent and 35 temporary — were placed on 24x7 alert. A total of 364 high-capacity pumps, including 265 electric and 99 diesel units, were operated to facilitate water clearance. Eight newly constructed pumping stations were also kept on standby.Nodal officers were deployed across eight municipal zones — Azimabad, Kankarbagh, Patna City, Patna Eastern, Patliputra, New Capital, Patna Western and Bankipore — to clear rainwater and pump operations on an hourly basis. Real-time updates, including geo-tagged photographs, were shared with the central monitoring team.Officials said technical glitches detected during the operation were promptly addressed by mechanical division teams.The exercise was supervised by chief general manager Rama Shankar Prasad, general manager Surendra Kumar Mehta and project director Ashok Kumar.Managing director Animesh Kumar Parashar directed all teams to remain on high alert through the monsoon, warning that negligence would invite disciplinary action. Weekly inspection reports are being reviewed by senior officials to ensure operational readiness, he added.