Ludhiana, Feb. 3 -- Pushed to the brink by foul smell and unhygienic conditions that have persisted for over 10 days, residents of Dhoka Mohalla staged a two-hour protest outside the municipal corporation's Zone D office on Monday, accusing civic authorities of ignoring a chronic drainage problem.

Residents alleged that dirty water accumulation and a persistent foul smell had made daily life unbearable in the locality. While such conditions were earlier witnessed largely during the rainy season, they said the problem had now intensified even in dry weather, pointing to a chronic drainage failure that authorities had failed to resolve despite repeated complaints.

Congress councillors joined the residents in the protest and blocked the ma...