“Our workers are on the job round the clock but some areas outside the Puja mandap have been waterlogged for two days. However, after taking certain measures, it is starting to dry up. We are celebrating 62 years and this time our theme is the char dham. Every year, large numbers of people gather at our mandap and this time we are expecting even larger crowds from Dhemaji because the Bogibeel bridge opened last year,” said Raju Krishan Keshan, the president of the Jhalukpara Puja Committee.

He said their Puja will be inaugurated on October 3.

“We have made the pandal waterproof. We are celebrating our platinum jubilee and our theme is Dreamland. We are expecting a good crowd this time,” said Ashok Dhanuka, the president of Marwari Patty Durga Puja.

People are also facing problems to go to the markets.

“Our work is on full swing. We are expecting good weather in coming days,” said a worker at the Mitra Sangha Puja Committee.

Continuous rain has hit the Durga Puja preparations in Dibrugarh town of Upper Assam, with the artisans engaged in making idols having a tough time.

The rain has halted the construction of a number of marquees, while some Puja organisers are apprehensive about waterlogging outside the pandals.

“Our work is being hampered because of the inclement weather. We are having a tough time because the rain has slowed down our work,” said Swapan Paul, an idol-maker.

The Puja pandal at Marwari Patty in Dibrugarh UB Photos