India, Oct. 23 -- Days after Diwali, piles of uncollected garbage and cracker debris were seen lying across Gurugram. Several parts of the city, including Sector 9, Sector 11, and Beriwala Bagh, are filled with overflowing bins and neglected waste collection points emit unbearable stench, attracting stray animals.

Residents say the city's sanitation system has "completely collapsed," turning the post-Diwali aftermath into an annual nightmare.

From main roads to residential by-lanes, mounds of waste - plastic wrappers, burnt fireworks, and food leftovers - lie scattered. Even the secondary collection points are overflowing, with garbage spilling on roads. "It's ironic that we celebrate Diwali as a festival of light and cleanliness but wa...