A Delhi water crisis was reported across several East Delhi colonies on Thursday after residents said black, foul-smelling water began flowing from household taps, disrupting drinking and cooking arrangements and prompting demands for immediate action from the Delhi Jal Board.
Residents in Shastri Park, Jyoti Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Sundar Nagari and Dilshad Garden reported the discoloured water during the morning. According to the report, many people contacted Delhi Jal Board officials and staff throughout the day, but the problem had not been resolved at the time of publication.
Several families reportedly bought bottled water, while others collected water from nearby homes. Residents said the water was so dark that they did not consider it fit for drinking or cooking, and described a smell similar to that of an open drain. The incident has placed pressure on households that depend on the public supply for basic daily needs.
Residents have expressed concern that sewage may have entered drinking-water pipelines. The report records fears of stomach-related illnesses from using contaminated water, but does not cite laboratory test results or a confirmed medical assessment establishing the cause or health impact of the discolouration.
Manmohan Saraswat, president of the West Jyoti Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association, said all sewer lines in the colony were blocked and that sewage was overflowing at several locations. He alleged that water from a large drain was diverted into the colony’s sewer line during construction work on Loni Road, affecting the sewer network and potentially the quality of the drinking-water supply.
Saraswat also alleged that complaints had been made several times to the Delhi Jal Board’s junior engineer and assistant engineer, without action. His account links the reported water-quality problem to a wider failure of drainage and sewerage management, although the report does not include an official confirmation of the alleged connection or identify the agency executing the drain construction.
Anil Kumar, a resident of Ashok Nagar, said black and foul-smelling water came from his tap in the morning and appeared unsuitable for drinking or cooking. Residents have asked the Delhi Jal Board to inspect the pipelines immediately, test the water quality and ensure a supply of clean drinking water until the problem is resolved.
The report does not state whether the Delhi Jal Board collected samples, arranged water tankers, isolated any pipeline or announced a restoration timeline. The immediate administrative steps sought by residents are a technical inspection of the affected network, testing of the water and an alternative supply for households until the quality issue is addressed.
