It is a cesspool of dirt and virtual invitation for spread of disease.Residents of Arbaeen Street Jeddah’s Azizia district are a harrowed lot ever since there was a pipeline burst in the area over a week ago, spewing out sewage water.

The residents have put up with the foul smell, contaminated water threatening spread of disease and, more important, making a walk to the mosque for prayers an ordeal. The numerous complaints lodged by residents so far have fallen on deaf ears, residents say.

“We have been living in this area for past two years, and we have observed that the situation is not confined to just our area but also on the road near the village restaurant and on Sahafa Street, where sewage water seeps out flooding the road with pools of dirty water,” said Mohammed Younes.

He stated that the municipality should take care of this problem, particularly since this is the month of blessing. “The dining table is the worst place during iftar time when the foul smell is all pervading,” he said.

“It is more than a week now since the underground sewage pipeline burst, but no one from the municipality has bothered to fix it,” he pointed out.

Moeen Khan, another resident, said the sewage water puddle and pool was an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. The dirty water not only creates a foul smell but is also a source for spread of diseases, he said. “My child fell sick and was taken to hospital,” he said.