In Delhi’s wholesale hub Sadar, choked drains and water inside shops

3 min readNew DelhiJul 29, 2026 03:27 AM IST An inundated lane at Sadar Bazar. Abhinav SahaSurrounded by photo frames and other artefacts in a souvenir shop at Old Delhi’s Sadar Bazar, one of the largest wholesale markets in the country, Anil Kumar, in his 30s, stood in knee-deep water on Tuesday with a bucket in his hand. Even as he tirelessly continued to throw out the water, the efforts did not yield a result he expected. Sadar Bazar, famous for souvenirs, glassware, furniture, and dry fruits, emerges as a waterlogging hotspot every monsoon, causing heavy losses to shop owners. “I have been working here for 20 years, and every time it rains, it floods. This hasn’t changed in decades,” said Kumar.Outside the shop, hordes of workers could be seen carrying heavy packages on their heads, an