The abduction of an 11-year-old girl from a pavement at CDR Chowk in Mehrauli, south Delhi, followed by her rape and murder, has highlighted the precarious lives of hundreds who sleep on pavements and near public infrastructure due to lack of housing and overcrowded shelters.

Despite being removed by the police, along with other pavement dwellers, after the June 22 incident, Chandprakash, a 59-year-old rag-picker from Uttar Pradesh who used to sleep on the pavement near CDR Chowk, returned to the spot on Saturday. “I can still manage alone, but families with children can’t keep shifting,” he said, adding that he relies on night shelters in winter and plastic sheets during rain.

A short distance away, near the Chhattarpur metro station, around 20 families stay in makeshift huts. “Men usually sleep outside to guard the families. There are no street lights,” said Mahaveer Singh. Close to the flyover near IIT Delhi, families sleep in close clusters, with children placed in the middle and adults on the edges. Bharti, a flower seller, said they sleep in shifts to stay alert. Access to basic amenities remains limited.

“We wait till morning or use the roadside,” said Mausami, 11, referring to the lack of toilets.

Shankar, 40, said he has lived on pavements since birth. “My parents came to Delhi but could not find stable work,” he said. At the Dwarka flyover, several families continue to sleep on pavements with their infants. “Where else can we go in this heat?” said Madan, fanning his eight-month-old son.