Ara: Drain water has entered houses in low lying areas as well as the emergency ward of Ara Sadar Hospital following intermittent heavy rain in the past five days.

Intermittent rain since Friday night has thrown life out of gear. Residents as well as patients and doctors are having to wade through water and there is stink all around, as Ara Municipal Corporation (AMC) employees have not sprinkled bleaching powder in the drains, but the civic officials remain indifferent. They have instead made tall claims about addressing the problem of waterlogging.

Some residents have demanded that AMC spray chemicals to urgently address the foul smell in many areas.

Deputy superintendent, Ara Sadar Hospital, Satish Kumar Sinha expressed concern about waterlogging. He said rainwater accumulated on the campus mixes with drain water and enters the campus forcing doctors and patients wade through it, creating unhygienic conditions and increasing prospects of water-borne diseases spreading like an epidemic. He advised all to drink boiled water and avoid eating from roadside eateries.

Shivganj resident Hare Ram Singh took around an hour to reach Hariji Ka Hata by rickshaw when it takes 10 minutes otherwise. There were huge traffic snarls too.

AMC town commissioner Pramod Kumar said AMC had de-silted drains before the advent of monsoon but residents dumped garbage and polythene bags, chocking them again.

He said when the rainfall stops, AMC will step in to remove excess water.