Patna: With Durga Puja approaching, residents of Nandgaon and the New Student Club’s puja committee are struggling with garbage-strewn roads and dangerously low-hanging electrical wires, raising concerns over public health and idol immersion.Residents said Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) teams collect garbage regularly, but littering by locals remains a problem.“The foul smell is unbearable. During rain, the garbage mixes with drain water and enters our houses. With thousands of devotees expected to visit the puja pandal at Nandgaon, this garbage will create a very bad impression and also poses health risks like dengue and infection,” said Sundar Kumar, treasurer of New Student Club, Nandgaon.Located near Nehru Path, the pandal’s surrounding area has to be cleaned by committee members themselves before Saptami every year.Low-hanging electrical wires in Nandgaon’s bylanes, barely 8-10 feet above the ground and tied to bamboo poles and trees, pose another challenge. The 12-14-foot-high idols often get caught in them during immersion.“Last year we had to tilt the Maa Kali idol and drag it dangerously. There is a risk of electrocution. We have requested the electricity department to raise the height and fix the loose wires before Navami, but no action has been taken yet,” said committee member Chandan Kumar.Organisers also expressed disappointment over limited financial support from nearby J D Women’s College and Bihar Police Headquarters, despite the festival’s contribution to the area’s safety and crowd management.The committee, which is spending around Rs 10 lakh on this year’s theme, urged the district administration to clear garbage and fix the wires before Saptami to prevent accidents.
