Patna, Sep 11 (IANS): The Bihar government has sounded a flood alert in nine districts following a rise in the levels of the Ganges and Sone rivers, officials said Sunday.

A day after sudden rise in the water level of the two rivers, the government has alerted the district administrations of Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Samastipur and Khagaria and ordered them to keep a round the clock vigil on the situation

"The government directed the district magistrates to intensify the vigil along the embankments and carry out flood protection work at vulnerable places," an official of the water resources department said.

The Patna canal of Sone and Ara canal of Sone river have been closed as a precautionary measure.

"The government sounded alert after heavy rains in catchments areas of major rivers and sudden release of over 6 lakh cusecs of water from the Bansagar reservoir," an official of state disaster management department said.

Bihar Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary told IANS over the telephone that government is not taking any chances and alerted officials concerned as situation is grave after heavy discharge of water from Bansagar.

According to central water commission officials, all major rivers in the state were flowing above the danger mark,with flood-waters spreading to many areas and affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

The district authorities have asked people to shift to safe places.