Lucknow: Residents of Jankipuram Extension staged an unusual protest on Sunday, organising a ‘Keechad Mahotsav’ (slush festival) to highlight years of waterlogging and pothole-ridden roads in the area. With monsoon showers worsening the condition of the stretch, locals gathered at the waterlogged road, held placards and raised slogans, turning rain-filled craters into the centrepiece of their campaign against alleged civic apathy.Instead of blocking traffic or holding a routine demonstration, the residents used satire to draw attention to their daily ordeal. Videos from the protest were widely shared on social media, amplifying demands for urgent intervention.The invitation for the event was issued in the name of the Sargam Apartment Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) on Kursi Road along with residents of Smriti, Srishti, Janeshwar and Sulabh apartments. Participants urged the Lucknow Development Authority and the municipal corporation to carry out immediate repairs, improve drainage and provide a permanent solution before the monsoon intensifies.Sargam Apartment RWA head Anurodh Rai alleged that despite repeated complaints, the road remained submerged in muddy water and riddled with potholes for a long time. Residents said the stretch becomes nearly impassable after every spell of rain, creating risks for commuters, schoolchildren and two-wheeler riders.Several locals claimed motorists suffered minor accidents while attempting to navigate the damaged road. Protesters said the symbolic event was meant to remind civic agencies of their responsibility towards taxpayers.
