Patna streets were littered with stinking garbage, as the strike by Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) staff union entered its third day on Thursday.

Overspilling garbage bins and piles of scattered garbage everywhere is forcing residents to go around with handkerchiefs around their noses. The three-day strike has now been extended indefinitely.

"The piles of garbage are inviting flies and mosquitoes," said Siddharth Sinha of Kidwaipuri. "It is a shame the civic body did not make any alternative arrangements."

"I was taking Ashok Rajpath and Fraser Road to reach my place on Boring Road. It was nauseating because of the stench," Kankerbagh-based businessman Monu Agarwal said. "I wonder what will happen if the strike continues."

"I was hoping the strike would end today and garbage would be carted away by evening," said Ashiana Nagar resident Kanchan Kumari.

The PMC staff union are on strike since Tuesday to demand pay hike, lifelong pension policy for families of deceased workers and regularisation of services for 2,500 casual workers. Civic body officials, however, said a decision vis-à-vis pay hike and pension policy would be taken only after assessing the financial implications.

Regarding alternative arrangement for sanitation works, PMC officials said assistance was being sought from neighbouring civic bodies while water supply has not been hit much. "We are using garbage compactors to clear garbage bins but problems are being reported from areas where compactors cannot reach," said Vishal Anand, executive officer in the PMC's new capital circle. "Workers engaged in sweeping the streets at night are also being involved."