Patna: With preparations underway for Chhath Puja 2026, the Bihar government has issued helpline numbers for devotees who may need assistance or face an emergency during the festival.
Authorities are preparing facilities at 10,599 river, pond, lake and canal ghats across the state. Arrangements include cleanliness, lighting, drinking water, security, barricading, temporary toilets and changing rooms.
Devotees can contact the following numbers in case of an emergency or other difficulties:
| Helpline | Contact Number |
|---|---|
| DGP Control Room | 0612-2294318 |
| DGP Control Room | 0612-2294319 |
| DGP Control Room | 0612-2294323 |
| Women’s Helpline | 1091 |
| Prohibition Helpline | 15545 |
Facilities Being Prepared at More Than 10,000 Ghats
Chhath is one of Bihar’s major festivals, with large numbers of people returning to their hometowns from other states and countries to celebrate it with their families.
Considering the expected crowds, the administration has begun preparations at ghats across the state. Cleaning work is underway at major riverbanks and other worship sites, including those along the Ganga.
Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary had also inspected ghats ahead of the festival and directed officials to ensure that necessary facilities were available for devotees.
Rs 8.43 Crore Special Grant Released
The Urban Development and Housing Department has released a special grant of Rs 8.43 crore for arrangements at Chhath ghats.
Of this amount:
- Rs 3.60 crore has been allocated to 18 municipal corporations.
- Rs 4.83 crore has been allocated to 157 municipal councils.
- Rs 15 lakh has been provided to Deh Municipal Council.
The funds are intended to support temporary facilities and other arrangements for devotees.
Toilets, Changing Rooms and Watchtowers Planned
Temporary facilities are being developed to improve convenience at the ghats.
According to the available figures, the arrangements include:
| Facility | Number |
|---|---|
| Temporary toilets | 552 |
| Urinals | 450 |
| Changing rooms | 400 |
| Passenger shelters | 13 |
| Watchtowers | 171 |
These facilities are intended to help devotees, particularly women, children and senior citizens, during the festival.
21 Sectors and 7,500 Additional Lights
For crowd management and security monitoring, authorities have divided the ghats into 21 sectors.
Around 55 to 60 artificial ponds are also being prepared for worship. In addition, 7,500 extra lights will be installed at ghats and on approach roads to improve visibility during the early morning and evening rituals.
Dangerous locations along rivers and other water bodies are being identified. Barricades will be installed at such places to prevent devotees from entering unsafe areas.
Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will also be deployed wherever required.
150 Additional Buses and Special Trains for Festival Travel
The government is also coordinating with the Railways to manage the expected rush of passengers travelling to Bihar for Chhath.
Special trains are being arranged for the festive period. The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation has also planned to operate 150 additional buses.
Special traffic plans are being prepared in major cities to help devotees travel between residential areas and Chhath ghats. Thousands of Bihar Police personnel are expected to be deployed for crowd management and security.
Round-the-Clock Electricity at 10,599 Ghats
The electricity department has prepared a plan to ensure 24-hour power supply at all 10,599 identified ghats across Bihar.
These include:
- 1,405 main ghats
- 9,194 other ghats
The distribution of identified ghats across the two power distribution companies is as follows:
| Power Distribution Company | Main Ghats | Other Ghats |
|---|---|---|
| South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited | 948 | 2,381 |
| North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited | 457 | 6,813 |
The electricity department has assessed likely power demand by analysing data from 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Control rooms will operate round the clock from headquarters to divisional levels. Officials have also been instructed to ensure prompt repair or replacement of transformers in case of breakdowns or damage.
Government Focuses on Safe and Organised Chhath Celebrations
The preparations cover electricity, sanitation, lighting, transport, crowd management and emergency response across the state.
With thousands of personnel and multiple departments involved, the administration aims to ensure that devotees can perform the Chhath rituals with access to essential facilities.
People visiting the ghats are advised to follow barricading and safety instructions and contact the relevant helpline in case of an emergency
