Abul Fazal mosque waterlogging photo sparks outrage, with residents writing a letter to Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan on May 17, seeking relief.

What has left residents in shock is that, despite the MLA office being informed several times about Abul Fazal mosque waterlogging photo — and even receiving two letters and several oral requests in the last few days addressed to Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan — no action has been taken yet.

Abul Fazal mosque waterlogging photo triggers outrage

The Abul Fazal mosque waterlogging photo triggered outrage after it was posted by this portal on its social media handle on May 19 — highlighting that, despite receiving the complaint, the MLA’s office remained inactive for days. As the photo went literally viral, residents demanded a swift resolution to the issue so that namazis can reach the mosque without hardship and offer their prayers.

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In a letter addressed to Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan, residents of N Block raised serious concerns over an ongoing civic issue involving a sewer jam and water flooding near Qadri Masjid.

The residents submitted another letter to the MLA office on May 21 after no action was taken to address the burning issue. A resident who submitted the letter told OT that “their excuse (the MLA office) is that they are receiving a lot of applications from the entire area”.

Abul Fazal mosque waterlogging photo: Letter to MLA fails to yield results

He said when residents approach Councillor Areeba Khan’s office, they are told that sewer and waterlogging issues don’t fall under its jurisdiction, creating a piquant situation for the residents about whom to approach. “We voted for Amanatullah Khan in the MLA election in the hope that he would address such issues and fulfill his electoral promises, but it appears he doesn’t even have time to read a complaint letter. It’s not such a difficult task and could be handled by either of them — Councillor Areeba or Amanatullah. During elections, they spent huge amounts on campaigning, but once the elections are over, they show reluctance in doing any work. You can see for yourself that the area is in a pathetic state,” said a resident.

In the formal letter of complaint submitted by local resident Mohd Shakir, he urged municipal authorities and the area MLA to take swift action. “The water stagnation not only disrupts movement but also raises serious health concerns,” stated Shakir in his letter.

The problem has been particularly severe on the stretch of road adjacent to Qadri Masjid, where stagnant sewer water has accumulated due to a prolonged blockage in the drainage system. This has resulted in widespread water-logging, making the road nearly impassable for both pedestrians and vehicles. The situation has caused immense inconvenience to commuters and to those visiting the masjid for daily prayers.

“Children and elderly residents are especially vulnerable, and the unhygienic conditions increase the risk of waterborne diseases. The water-logging has also led to mosquito breeding, further escalating the risk of vector-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria,” said a resident.

In addition to health hazards, the blocked sewer has caused significant disruption to daily life. The area around the masjid, which sees high footfall especially during prayer times, has become slippery and hazardous. Devotees are forced to navigate through foul-smelling, contaminated water, which is both unpleasant and unsafe.

Waterlogging and sewer overflowing at Qadri Mosque for 20 days

Residents have also pointed out that this is not the first time such flooding has occurred in the area. According to locals, the drainage system in this part of N Block is outdated and frequently malfunctions during the summer and monsoon months. Despite repeated complaints in the past, no permanent solution has been implemented, leaving the neighborhood vulnerable to recurrent flooding. The current situation has been like this for the last 20 days.

In his appeal, Shakir has requested that the local authorities take immediate measures to clean and unclog the sewers, ensure proper drainage, and maintain the road regularly. He has also emphasised the need for a long-term infrastructure upgrade to prevent such issues from recurring in the future. Residents believe that timely action could not only restore normalcy to the affected area but also demonstrate the administration’s commitment to public welfare.

“A proactive approach now will save us from larger problems during the upcoming monsoon,” Shakir concluded.

This is not the only locality in Jamia Nagar facing such a situation, as residents have complained that many streets in the area are waterlogged even during the summer, despite the absence of monsoon rains, causing days of hardship for residents. The biggest tragedy, according to another resident, is that no one from the MLA or Councillor’s office takes prompt action. These situations often persist for days or even weeks, forcing residents to pool their own money to get the work done.