Ludhiana, Feb. 19 -- In the industrial neighbourhood of Sherpur, a stretch of the 100 Futa (feet) Road has become a troubling example of civic neglect, where overflowing sewage and an expanding roadside garbage dump are forcing residents, commuters and schoolchildren to navigate unsafe, unhygienic conditions every day.

Large pools of stagnant sewage have spread across sections of the road, leaving pedestrians and two-wheeler riders with little option but to pass through the contaminated water. The situation worsens near a roadside garbage dump, where piles of mixed waste, including plastic, food scraps and household refuse, continue to accumulate.

The foul smell from the dump is noticeable from a distance, and stray animals can be seen ...