Patna: The Army will join the civil authorities in relief and rescue operations in the flood-ravaged areas of Bihar from September 12 as the Patna district administration continued to fight a grim battle to save this city from the fury of the swollen Ganga.

"The Army will join in our relief and rescue efforts from tomorrow (September 12) morning. The Army will be there to supplement the civilian authorities' relief and rescue endeavour," the chief secretary, K A H Subramanian, said.

Earlier, Subramanian had told a hurriedly called press conference that the Army would launch rescue and relief operations by late September 11 evening.

Four columns of Army from Danapur, Gaya, Ramgarh and Allahabad each comprising 110 personnel with boats, and four choppers would begin their work, including airdropping of food packets, from September 12. These Army personnel will be deployed in worst hit Patna, Vaishali, Saran and Samastipur districts, he said.

Claiming that the situation was totally under control, the chief secretary said that there was no need for panic.

The situation is likely to improve with little rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the major rivers during the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Ganga continued to pose a major threat to the state capital submerging a large number of villages in Danapur sub-division.

Several low-lying localities in the capital, including Pataliputra colony and Digha, were facing water logging due to backflow of drain water, which cannot flow into the Ganga.

Subramanian said that so far 142 people had lost their lives in 20 flood-hit districts where a population of over 42 lakh was reeling under the impact of the floods.

PTI