Four-month drainage overflow leaves Shaheennagar residents in distress

Residents of Al Ain Colony in Shaheennagar have been grappling with stagnant drainage water for four months, leading to mosquito breeding, foul smell and health concerns. They say repeated complaints have yielded no lasting solution and have urged GHMC to take immediate action.

Hyderabad: The residents of Shaheennagar’s Al Ain Colony have been facing severe hardship for the past four months, with stagnant drainage water inundating the road connecting Shaheennagar and Venkatapur, creating unhygienic conditions, and disrupting their daily lives.

The locals point out that the prolonged civic problem has led to a surge in mosquito breeding, unbearable foul smell, and growing fears of disease outbreaks. “It is unbearable. We cannot even sit outside our homes because of the foul smell and the swarms of mosquitoes,” said Samiullah Khan, a resident.

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“Children and elderly people are the worst affected. Every few weeks, someone in the family develops a fever or other health problems. We are poor people who survive on daily wages, and spending money on medical treatment is an additional burden,” complained another resident, Abdul Khadeer.

A worried resident, Mohammedi Bee, said, “The dirty water has been there on the road for months, and we have to walk through it every day. Mosquitoes have multiplied, and we constantly fear our children will contract diseases.”

Another resident, Babu Miya, said the stagnant sewage has affected the livelihoods of residents who are labourers, drivers, and small traders. “Missing a day’s work due to ailments means losing that day’s income,” he said.

Local shopkeepers said business suffered as customers avoided the road due to the foul smell and waterlogging. A similar situation prevailed even during the holy month of Ramzan, resulting in a sharp decline in commercial activity, they lament.

Residents said the problem has persisted ever since the area was merged with the GHMC, with repeated complaints failing to evoke a lasting solution. They appealed to elected representatives and GHMC officials to immediately improve the conditions.