ghaziabad the overflowing drain in front of ashirwad greens society in vaishali sector 2 is not just an eyesore but a health hazard for the local residents apart from the unbearable stench they claim that toxic emissions from the drain damage their electrical items their repeated pleas to the authorities have so far fallen on deaf earsharish chandra shukla a cartoonist who has been living here since 1996 said i was probably among the first to settle in this residential area this drain was originally planned as a rainwater drain over time people from different areas started throwing garbage into the drain now it has become a health hazard for uspoisonous gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide from the drain lead to the damage of electrical equipment like refrigerators and airconditioners according to the residentsvithika krishnanawat another resident said every summer we have to get our ac gases refilled 34 times when we came here some 12 years ago the green area which has now been submerged with the drain water used to be a scenic place with trees the green space has now become a dumpyard due to the drainduring monsoon rains the drain water enters the residential area and also inside the community park this year the ghaziabad municipal corporation did not clean the drain before the showers many a time fire tenders are pressed into service to douse the flames in trees of the green area some people intentionally destroy these trees by putting them on fire he added according to the residents they have been running from one department to another for the past so far years but no help has been extended so far the civic authorities have not paid any heed to our apathy said another residentwhen contacted mahendra singh tanwar ghaziabad municipal commissioner said we will send a team for inspection and do the needful if cleaning has been done this year action will be taken