Patna: The Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCo) will conduct a city-wide mock drill on the night of June 1 to evaluate Patna’s preparedness for monsoon-related waterlogging, officials said.
The exercise will run from 11 pm to 2 am, during which all drainage pumping stations (DPS) across the city will operate simultaneously under supervision.
Administrative Directions and Monitoring
BUIDCo Managing Director Animesh Kumar Parashar has directed officials to complete repair and maintenance work of all permanent and temporary drainage pumping stations on a priority basis ahead of the monsoon season.
According to officials, responsibility for monsoon preparedness has been assigned at both zonal and headquarters levels to ensure accountability in operations and maintenance of drainage systems.
Officials have been instructed to conduct regular inspections instead of relying solely on external agencies. Strict action will be taken in cases of negligence, the corporation said.
Pre-Monsoon Works and Deadlines
As part of the preparedness plan, cleaning of sump wells, gratings and connected drainage structures has been directed to be completed by May 30.
Following this, headquarters-level verification will be carried out to confirm compliance and readiness before the mock drill.
Details of Mock Drill Exercise
During the June 1 exercise, the performance of staff deployed at sump houses during night shifts will be assessed in real time.
Officials said the drill will focus on:
- Cleaning and functionality of inlets, outlets, gratings, manholes and connecting drains
- Response time of personnel during night operations
- Simultaneous activation of all pumps to test capacity and coordination
Drainage Infrastructure in Patna
Patna city has 56 permanent and 35 temporary drainage pumping stations, officials said.
A total of 364 pumps—including 265 electric and 99 diesel-operated units—are part of the city’s drainage system. Of these, 256 pumps are installed at permanent stations and 83 at temporary sites.
In addition, eight new drainage pumping stations have been prepared and will be operational during the upcoming monsoon season.
Officials said all zones have been instructed to ensure pumps remain functional, operators are deployed, and essential materials such as pipes are kept ready to handle heavy rainfall conditions.
