Bhagalpur/Banka: Residents of Bhagalpur and Banka have alleged they are helpless after the Bhagalpur district administration has snapped Internet services from Saturday evening following group clashes in Nathnagar.

Although there is no official confirmation, many residents of Banka district and the Naugachia sub-division of Bhagalpur said they cannot access essential services and information.

"Just imagine how the Bhagalpur administration has created such a funny situation just to hide its inabilities," alleged Manjesh Singh, a resident. He said his wife, who was under the care of doctors at AIIMS, New Delhi, recently developed some complications. "I informed the doctors about the development to which they prescribed some medicines and sent some suggestions on my WhatsApp for my wife, which I have not yet received on my number, mainly owing to disruption of Net services here," he added.

Mankeshwar Jha from Naugachia, who has been trying to register the name of his son, a cancer patient, with Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, through the Internet, was frustrated. "The doctors, who assured me a bed there for my son, told me to register immediately on the evening of March 17. "The next day, when I tried to register, I found that the Net was not working."

Similarly, a doctor of a private hospital in Bhagalpur narrated how they had conducted a critical surgery on March 18, which was scheduled to be conducted under the supervision of a medical board through video-conferencing. "We had taken a risk as there was no video-conferencing, but we had no option since the condition of the patient was serious," said the doctor.

Similarly, Rakhi, a student from Banka, could not send project her online assignment for the final year examination of her postgraduate IT management from Bangalore on March 18. "Now, I would have to wait for another six months to sit for the exam. Who is accountable for my missing the exam?" she asked.

People from various walks of lives in this region have expressed serious concern over snapping of Net services.

"In today's life, Internet is very crucial not only for entertainment but various important work. Life-saving measures are also directly attached with Net services," said Aditi Bagchi, a postgraduate student at Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University. "It's really funny to snap Net services just to hide the administration's inability for maintaining law and order. The administration is responsible for maintaining law and order, not remaining mute spectators and closing down of Net services," added Aditi.

Bhagalpur district magistrate Adesh Titarmare was unavailable for comment despite several attempts.

Senior superintendent of police Manoj Kumar said he was busy in a meeting.

However, sources in the Bhagalpur administration said to avoid any further disturbance in Nathnagar, Net services will remain disrupted in the region till March 25, the day of Ram Navami.