Passengers walk through muddy water at Badambadi bus depot in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, June 17: Incessant rain in the past four days has provided some much-needed respite from the scorching heat. But it has also created problems for people here in the Silver City.

Waterlogging in many parts of the city is proving to be an impediment for civic authorities to maintain sanitation as heaps of garbage are accumulating along the roadside.

Moreover, waterlogging at Badambadi bus depot, which serves as the nucleus of the public transport system in the state, has left hundreds of passengers in the lurch.

“We have to wade through knee-deep water to board buses and the government is taking no steps to improve the condition of the bus depot,” said Krushna Beura, 45, a passenger. Beura, who hails from Angul, came to Cuttack today to catch a bus to Calcutta where he works in a private telecommunication company.

In spite of the rain, there was unprecedented rush at Badambadi bus depot as a lot of people who had come to the state for Raja festival, are now leaving.

“There are no sanitation measures and the entire bus depot is filled with drain and rainwater. Big potholes and mud are causing a lot of inconvenience to the passengers,” said Puspalata Sahu, 34, another passenger.

The Badambadi bus depot, which is located in the heart of the city, is inundated even by a short spell of shower because of improper drainage facilities. The authorities could not be contacted despite several attempts.

Waterlogging at Krsuhak Bazar in the Kendupatna area has also created problems for vendors and local residents here in the city.

At present, 300 odd vendors sell vegetables, meat and other edibles at Krushak Bazar that was inaugurated in 2001. It has been just about three years that the biggest market is functioning in a full-fledged manner.

“There are no facilities at Krushak Bazar. Our business has suffered in the last couple of days because of waterlogging and parking problems because consumers are reluctant to come here,” said Manoj Sahu, a vendor.

Buyers at the market also expressed their dissatisfaction with the scenario.

Krsuhak Bazar secretary Kishore Swain said steps were initiated today to create a passage for the release of stagnant water at the market.

He added that the matter would be brought to the notice of Orissa State Agriculture and Marketing Board for a permanent solution of the waterlogging problem.