Ludhiana, Sept. 6 -- After torrential rain lashed Ludhiana on Sunday and Monday, floodwaters from the polluted Buddha Nullah surged into low-lying residential areas, submerging homes and streets in black, foul-smelling sludge. While the water began receding by Tuesday, residents in severely affected pockets like Dhokha Mohalla are still grappling with the aftermath - damaged homes, destroyed belongings, and an unbearable stench that refuses to go away.

With little to no official help reaching them, these families now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from what remains.

Sunita Devi's 40-year-old sick son was sleeping in the wee hours of Monday when the dirty waste water from the Buddha Nullah started running into his room....