Waterlogging mars Krishna Janmashtami celebrations at Shravasti temple, sparks PWD protest

Waterlogging on the road in front of Maa Kali Mata temple in Birganj Bazaar, Jamunaha area of Shravasti, cast a shadow over Krishna Janmashtami celebrations this year. The long-standing water accumulation crisis turned the joyous occasion into a source of distress for devotees.

Devotees visiting the temple faced severe difficulties due to waterlogging and filth, which impacted several cultural and religious programs scheduled during the Krishna Janmotsav.

On the sacred occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, devotees carried the same enthusiasm as every year, but the main pathway to the temple was filled with overflowing water and mud, making it extremely difficult for devotees to reach the shrine. No major event could be organized during Janmashtami due to the waterlogging on the road. Devotees who came to receive prasad at the grand bhandara organized on the fifth day of Janmotsav had to wade through dirty water. The number of devotees reaching the temple premises this year witnessed a sharp decline because of the water accumulation.

Angered by the lack of proper drainage arrangements, Shri Krishna Janmashtami Samiti president Manoj Kumar alias Guddu Gupta and Pyarelal Gupta have strongly protested against the gross negligence of the Public Works Department (PWD). Committee office-bearers said that despite repeated complaints, the department did not repair the road and drains in time, and thousands of devotees had to bear the consequences.

Samiti president Manoj Kumar alias Guddu Gupta has demanded that the District Magistrate take cognizance of the matter, initiate strict action against the guilty departmental officers, and ensure that the Maa Kali temple road in Birganj Bazaar is freed from waterlogging at the earliest. Villagers and committee members have warned that if a permanent solution for the road and drain is not provided soon, they will be compelled to launch an agitation.