PATNA, Sept. 27 -- Chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Saturday directed district authorities across sensitive riverine belts to remain on high alert, bracing for a possible surge in rivers originating from Nepal's hilly region. The official machinery swung into action particularly due to sudden rise in discharges in major rivers like Kosi and Gandak from Nepal side. On Saturday, Birpur barrage on river Kosi recorded discharge of around 3 lakh cusec, though it was maintaining a receding trend. However, the discharge in Gandak from Valmikinagar barrage crossed the 3 lakh cusec mark in the evening and officials said it was rising. The high-level review meeting was attended by principal secretary of disaster management department (DMD) Santosh Kumar Mall and water resources department (WRD) secretary Chandrashekhar Singh and district magistrates of 17 districts via video conference. According a press communique issued by the DMD, the chief secretary has ordered NDRF and SDRF teams to remain on standby, with boats, life jackets and rescue equipment pre-positioned. Continuous monitoring of river levels, embankments, low-lying areas and connecting roads has been mandated. Early warning through miking and timely evacuation, if required, are to be prioritised. Coordination among district administrations, police, WRD and DMD has been directed to remain seamless. The warning also comes as heavy rains, accompanied by gusty winds linked to the residual influence of Cyclone Arnab, have already left their mark on standing crops. In districts where farmers had gone for early sowing of paddy, the combination of downpours and strong winds flattened fields just as the crop began to bear grain. In Nalanda, one of the worst-hit pockets for such damage, farmer Rishabh Prasad of Biharsharif surveyed his waterlogged and wind-lashed field with quiet despair. "The paddy had started bearing grains. The gusty winds from Cyclone Arnab flattened everything overnight. What was standing tall is now lying in the mud. This year's hopes are gone," he said, gesturing towards the stalks that stretched across his three-acre plot. Official figures from the agriculture department paint a picture of near-complete coverage despite the weather's vagaries. Paddy seedling coverage stood at 3,90,944 hectares against a target of 3,90,559 hectares, which is 100.10 per cent. Transplanting reached 37,68,115 hectares against 38,00,869 hectares, or 99.14 per cent. Maize coverage was 2,62,537 hectares against 2,65,486 hectares (98.89 per cent). Overall crop coverage for the kharif season touched 41.747 lakh hectares against a target of 42.338 lakh hectares, achieving 98.60 per cent. Yet these numbers mask the pain of farmers whose early-sown crop has been laid low by the late-season storms. Rainfall data released by the India meteorological department's (IMD) Patna centre offers a mixed picture. In September alone (up to September 26), the state recorded 188.7 mm against a normal of 193.1 mm - a deficit of just 2.3 per cent, almost normal. But the broader monsoon picture remains grim: from June 1 to September 26, Bihar received only 657.9 mm against a normal of 968.8 mm, a deficit of 32.1 per cent. Thirty districts remain in the deficient category (-20 to -59 per cent), while Sheohar is largely deficient. Only seven districts - Aurangabad, Khagaria, Buxar, Lakhisarai, Siwan, Gaya and Nawada - recorded normal rainfall. The last 48 hours brought welcome but disruptive rain to several districts. Patna recorded 11.8 mm in the 24 hours, with earlier spells adding to the tally. Bhagalpur saw 34.5 mm and 35.1 mm at Sabour; Saharsa's Agwanpur station logged 28.1 mm earlier and 8.3 mm more; Munger received 10 mm and 21 mm; West Champaran's Valmiki Nagar registered 19.2 mm and 25 mm. Extremely heavy rain was reported at places in Sitamarhi and Khagaria, with stations such as Dhengbridge (144 mm), Baltara (116.2 mm) and Jhanjharpur (110.6 mm) recording exceptional amounts in the preceding 24-hour period. Maximum temperatures dipped across the state, ranging between 23.2degC and 31.6degC, while the highest wind speed touched 68 kmph in Bhojpur. In the capital, the rains turned daily life into an ordeal. Stormwater submerged roads in Gayghat-Didarganj, Bhadraghat-Mahavir Ghat, Parmeshwar Nagar, Gokul Nagar and parts of Kankarbagh, Shastrinagar and Danapur. Many stretches, already dug up for gas pipeline laying or drain construction under the Namami Gange Mission, became treacherous pits filled with murky water. Commuters reported near-misses and accidents as vehicles plunged into unseen craters. "We are living in hell. The roads are dug everywhere for pipelines and drains. When it rains, the water hides the pits. Yesterday my two-wheeler slipped and I fell. Who is responsible?" asked Mahendra Sharma, a resident of Kankarbagh. Another resident of Danapur, Sunita Devi, said: "Water has entered near our houses. Children cannot go to school. The administration digs but never finishes the work before monsoon." Civic officials acknowledged the problem but pointed to ongoing restoration under various schemes. Meanwhile, the Kosi and Gandak river system remain a flashpoint....