PATNA: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Wednesday revealed that he had a major bruise in his belly on October 15 when the steamer boat he was boarding collided with a pillar of the JP Setu during inspection of Chhath ghats situated on the bank of river Ganga in the state capital here.
After the incident, the state government officials claimed that no one was injured and all people on the steamer, including the CM, were safe. The Patna district administration had come out with a different story, denying any collision of the steamer boat with the pillar of the JP Setu.
But on Wednesday, Nitish himself showed a bandage in his belly to media persons by lifting his shirt and said he received bruises in his stomach and leg when the steamer boat he was boarding collided with the JP Setu’s pillar.
While talking to media persons during the second round of inspection of Chhath Ghats on the bank of Ganga river on Wednesday, the CM also said he has not been able to sit on the front seat of his official car as he is facing difficulties in wearing the seat belt because of the bruise in the belly. “Doctor has advised me to protect the place of the bruise from being hurt by anything,” Nitish said.
Earlier the CM inspected different Chhath Ghats from Patipur (Digha) to the Collectorate Ghat by travelling by car on the Ganga Path.
Accompanied by the state’s finance minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, the building construction minister Ashok Choudhary and state’s top bureaucrats like chief secretary Amir Subhani and the DGP S K Singhal, the CM also visited important ghats like the JP Setu Ghat, 93 Ghat, 83 Ghat, Balupar Ghat, Kurji Ghat, LCT Ghat, Pahalwan Ghat and Anta Ghat.
Nitish stopped at the Patipul Ghat in Digha area and inquired about the preparations being made for convenience of the Vratis.
While inspecting the different ghats, Nitish further asked the officials to take all necessary steps to ensure proper cleanliness, security and protection to visiting vratis during the four-day Chhath festival.
