Why would anyone build their home in the gutter? While the civic body claims to have desilted and cleaned nullahs thoroughly across the city, mid-day found an entire slum colony blocking a major drain in Bhandup East. The shanties have taken over half the drain. One big shower could be enough to not just submerge the slums, but also flood the whole neighbourhood, all thanks to the obstruction.

According to locals, the shanties cropped up around two years ago, as soon as the BMC had finished widening the drain. The slum dwellers have somehow managed to get illegal power supply, as well as satellite TV connections.