Bihar CM Visits Raj Complex, Calls for Heritage Conservation Amid Flood Alerts

On Sunday, Bihar’s chief minister Samrat Choudhary made his way to Rajnagar, Madhubani, to take a close look at the crumbling walls of the historic Raj Complex. The site, once the seat of a regional kingdom, is steeped in stories that the locals still whisper about.

After walking through the courtyard, the CM didn’t just admire the old stonework – he gave clear, practical orders. Officials were told to start a conservation programme right away, to clean up the area, and to think about how the complex could become a modest yet attractive spot for tourists. He even hinted at better lighting and signboards, so visitors could actually read the plaques without squinting.

In the same breath, Choudhary slipped into the nearby Maa Kali Temple. With a quiet moment of prayer, he asked for “happiness, peace and prosperity” for the people of Bihar. He later posted the same sentiment on X, underscoring that heritage and hope go hand‑in‑hand.

While the CM was busy with history, another, less pleasant chapter was unfolding on the banks of the Ganga. The river’s water level surged past the Highest Flood Level (HFL) at Gandhi Ghat in Patna, prompting the state to go on high alert.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, speaking from Munger, said the administration had already begun aerial surveys and that district officials were on standby. “We’ve seen floods before, and we’ll see them again,” he told reporters, “but we’re ready.”

Five downstream districts – including Hathidah – have been put under special vigilance. Officials are watching gauge stations closely, as water is expected to push further downstream over the next one to three days.

In Patna, low‑lying neighborhoods are already feeling a “flood‑like” ambience. Residents have been urged to move to higher ground, and rescue teams are on the move, ready to swing into action at a moment’s notice.

According to the Central Water Commission, the Ganga at Rajghat, Varanasi, stood at 69.80 m on the morning of September 6. The warning level is 70.262 m, the danger level 71.262 m, and the HFL sits at 73.901 m. The good news – if any – is that the water was receding at roughly a centimetre per hour.

Both the heritage push and the flood response show a Bihar that’s trying to balance its past with the pressing challenges of the present. Whether it’s preserving ancient stone or safeguarding lives from a swelling river, the state’s leadership appears to be taking the long view, even if the road ahead remains a little muddy.