The Bihar government has asked all district magistrates to complete safety and disaster preparedness work before Chhath Puja.
District magistrates are the top officers in each district.
The festival will be celebrated across the state from November 13 to 16, 2026.
The Disaster Management Department issued the directions on the instructions of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
The main aim is to prevent accidents.
Drowning, stampedes and other emergencies are the biggest concerns, because large numbers of devotees and families gather at riverbanks, ponds and ghats.
Key points
- Bihar's Disaster Management Department has asked all districts to finish safety work before Chhath Puja.
- Chhath Puja will be celebrated from November 13 to 16, 2026.
- Private boats will not be allowed from Nahay-Khay until the morning Arghya.
- Firecrackers near ghats and water bodies will be restricted during the same days.
Which places will get extra safety checks?
District administrations must find dangerous riverbanks and ponds.
They must also tell people about these places, so devotees avoid deep or unsafe water.
Doctors, paramedical staff and ambulances must be arranged at all major Chhath ghats.
Quick Medical Response Teams must also be stationed to give immediate help in emergencies.
Trained divers, swimmers and motorboat operators will be deployed at river ghats.
They will respond to drowning and other water-related emergencies.
What about boats, lights and firecrackers?
Private boats will be banned during the festival, from Nahay-Khay until the morning Arghya.
Magistrates, police personnel and chowkidars will be posted at the ghats to watch for violations.
Firecrackers will also face limits near river ghats, ponds and other water bodies.
The department says sudden loud sounds in crowds could cause panic and stampedes.
Lights must be set up at the ghats and on the routes leading to them.
All electrical equipment must be checked in advance, to prevent electric shocks and faulty connections.
- 1Identify dangerous water spotsDistrict administrations must find dangerous riverbanks and ponds and tell people to avoid deep or unsafe water.
- 2Medical help at ghatsDoctors, paramedical staff and ambulances must be arranged at major Chhath ghats, with Quick Medical Response Teams on standby.
- 3Trained rescue teamsDivers, swimmers and motorboat operators will be deployed at river ghats to respond to drowning and water emergencies.
- 4Private boats bannedPrivate boats will be banned from Nahay-Khay until the morning Arghya, with officials posted at ghats to watch for violations.
- 5Limits on firecrackers and powerFirecrackers will be limited near ghats and water bodies, and all electrical equipment must be checked in advance.
- 6Local coordinationDistricts must hold preparatory meetings, work with local Chhath committees, and keep control rooms running throughout the festival.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
What happens next for districts?
All districts have been told to hold preparatory meetings.
They must also prepare detailed action plans and communication arrangements for disaster management during the festival.
District administrations must work with local Chhath committees.
They must hold meetings with their representatives and give them training to improve emergency preparedness.
The control rooms of district administrations must keep working without interruption throughout the festival.
Explainer
What happened before
- Chhath Puja is the main festival of Bihar.
- Earlier, the health department put hospitals on high alert and ordered 24-hour services for Diwali and Chhath Puja.
Why it matters
Large crowds gather at rivers and ponds, so drowning and stampedes are a real risk for families.
What to watch next
- District administrations must hold preparatory meetings and prepare detailed action plans before the festival.
