Yamuna’s boom water entered the narrow streets of Majnu Ka Tila in North Delhi this week, causing dozens of houses and shops to submerge and life has been disturbed. After the water descends, the smell of wet wood, broken machines and dirty water of stagnant drains in the area makes a lot of fresh start.
In this Tibetan colony, situated on the banks of the river, cafes are buzzing with students on normal days, the tattoo parlor’s neon lights are burnt and the home-spa is busy running in the rented rooms. But now floods have turned everyday life into struggle.
Floods have affected all kinds of businesses from restaurants to tattoo parlor, salon, home-spa and garment shops. Many shop owners are now forced to sleep in their office, while services have come to a standstill due to the malfunction of the machines.
Jungi, who runs the restaurant, told the ‘PTI-language’ that water came to the roof of the house behind his restaurant. “My family has been running this restaurant for the last 15 years. Every time the water level of Yamuna rises, our house sinks. This time everything… bed, furniture, clothes… all went into the water. The restaurant is on the upper floor, so he survived, but our house and goods were all destroyed. Many shopkeepers said that they had to take refuge in nearby hotels.
Labsang Sering, who has been living in Majnu Ka Tila for nearly two decades, said that many families are living in rented rooms in high areas, while some people are sleeping within their shops so that there is no distance from business.
The communication system in the area has also been affected. Mobile network is interrupted and power supply is also irregular. Shopkeepers said that they have started using walkie-talkie to coordinate with the staff. Jungi said, “Keep the phone off so that the battery remains left for the emergency.”