The indefinite strike by more than 400 safai karmis (conservancy workers), which entered its 12th day on Monday, has left mounds of garbage rotting on the streets and choked drains of the proposed smart city during the festive season.

The main grouse of the striking workers, who work for private agencies engaged by Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation (BMC), is their provident fund (PF) contributions have allegedly been not deposited. They are demanding an increase in daily remuneration from Rs 214 to Rs 350 apart from a Puja bonus of Rs 5,000 each. Sources in BMC said two private agencies - Shivam and Panch Foundation - had been assigned for disposal of garbage from 51 wards of the city, the workers had been misguided and their PF contributions had already been deposited.

BMC town commissioner Avinash Kumar Singh was quick to react: "We don't have any guideline from the government to revise the wage rates of safai karmis but we have conveyed their demands to the government. It can only fulfil their demands."

Laddu Hari, the leader of the striking workers, alleged: "Our wage rates have not been revised for long, while prices of daily essentials have skyrocketed. So we are on strike from September 22."

Sources said the city generates over 300 tonnes of garbage daily.

Organisers of more than 60 Durga Pujas, including six heritage Pujas, in the city are a worried lot.

"Most of our relatives are coming from abroad to take part in our 237-year-old family Durga Puja. Heaps of garbage will greet them when they come this time," said Mohon Lal Sarkar, a member of Sarkar Bari of Manik Sarkar Chowk, pointing at accumulated trash beside the entrance of Sarkar Bari Durga Mandir.

Many Puja organisers echoed Sarkar and said devotees would face acute problem in visiting the Puja pandals this time because of the rotting garbage across the city. An epidemic outbreak cannot be ruled out in the city, which is already in the grip of dengue.

Santosh Bhoumik, a private doctor, said: "There has been a spurt in the number of patients suffering from waterborne diseases in my chamber."

The BMC commissioner said the civic body had started making alternative arrangements for disposal of garbage amid elaborate security arrangements. The striking workers had been attacking the casual workers engaged by BMC to clear the garbage.

The striking employees have decided to intensify the agitation to press their demands.