Sand-filled sacks found clogging sewers in Varanasi, FIR sought

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has sought an FIR after debris, including sand-filled sacks, was found inside main sewer lines. Officials are checking CCTV footage as the administration probes whether the blockage was deliberate.

In Short

• Blockage caused sewage overflow and waterlogging in several areas
• Mayor Tiwari called it a deliberate conspiracy to damage city's reputation
• Civic body reviewing CCTV and urging public to report sewer tampering

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has sought registration of an FIR against unidentified persons after sacks filled with sand, along with wood shavings, stones, plywood and plastic material, were found stuffed inside main sewer lines during cleaning operations in several wards, officials said on Saturday.

The incident has raised allegations of a deliberate conspiracy to block sewer lines and cause sewage overflow and waterlogging in several areas of Varanasi.

Sewer lines in around half a dozen wards were found clogged with debris, causing concern among civic officials.

Around 12 sacks filled with sand were recovered from a sewer line in the Shivala area on Friday night, officials said. The blockage caused sewage to overflow into adjoining lanes and led to waterlogging.

The civic body said its team found the material while cleaning the main sewer line near Ratnakar Park to address waterlogging. The material recovered from the sewer lines included sand-filled sacks, stones, wood shavings, plywood and plastic.

Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari and Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal inspected the site near Agrawal Radio in Shivala ward along with councillors and officials on Saturday and reviewed the sewer line and cleaning arrangements.

Tiwari alleged that the deliberate blockage appeared to be part of a conspiracy aimed at tarnishing the city's image.

The civic body has handed over a written complaint to police seeking an FIR against unidentified persons. The complaint was submitted by the Jal Kal department's executive engineer at the police station.

The complaint said the sacks were found while cleaning the main sewer line to address waterlogging.

The Municipal Corporation is examining CCTV footage to identify those responsible for allegedly dumping the debris into the sewer lines. The administration is investigating who placed the material inside the sewer lines and why.

The civic body has also appealed to residents to report any tampering with sewer lines or government infrastructure.

Officials said misleading photographs and videos of waterlogging had been circulated on social media over the past 10 days. They added that several waterlogging points had already been cleared and that workers were continuously pumping water out from low-lying areas.

The administration is also examining whether the incident was an attempt to tarnish Varanasi's image.

- Ends