Family forced into emergency accommodation after 'ankle-deep' sewage leak spreads into bedrooms

A Queensland family say they feel "abused, bullied and unheard" by their local council after rooms in their house were inundated by raw sewage following nearby council works.

Sumit and Sucheta Kapoor have lived in their Toowoomba home since 2018.

They're public servants, working as nurses in emergency and intensive care at the local hospital.

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Parents to their two kids, their life in Australia was the dream they had worked for.

But in November last year, the house-proud battlers were forced out of their home when sewage crept through the house from the shower drain in their ensuite.

"My son just yelled and you could see something, some black water kind of stuff coming very slowly coming out of the doors," Sucheta said.

"I walked in that water, it was ankle depth."

Raw sewage flowed from their walk-in robe to their main bedroom and through the walls to their children's rooms.

They claim the damage came after a council crew cleared a blockage from a manhole across the street.

"I really begged them, that 'Please, come inside and see what you've done'," Sucheta said.

"Everything got damaged in our room, my son's room, everything.

"And the smell ... within one hour, you couldn't stand (it)."

But the family claims the men told them it was "very common" and shooed them away.

Eventually, another council worker showed up to inspect the damage, before he accessed a different manhole on their property to clear the blockage.

"We went inside and the guy, council guy, just shook his head," Sumit said.

"He said, 'Oh, this is really saddening and ...he apologised for what has happened."

Toowoomba Council paid for a few nights in a hotel but, the Kapoors say, that's all they've done.

Thankfully, the family was insured, meaning the cost of cleaning, stripping and rebuilding, as well as their emergency accommodation, is covered.

With long-term stays hard to come by, the family has had to move five times in four months, eating into their savings and annual leave.

"We are financially under a lot of strain," Sucheta said.

"We have used all our holidays, we have used our pocket money, we have used everything," Sumit added.

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At their wit's end, the family eventually wrote to council, asking for help.

"We are struggling with everything" they said.

"Having to move around for the accommodation (is) causing so much stress to our family."We are looking forward to the full support and understanding of the council about our physical, mental and financial conditions."

But, to their amazement, the council's reply seemed to suggest it was not their problem.

"Whilst the damage to your property is unfortunate, the circumstances that led to the incident were outside Council's control and were unforeseeable; therefore, Council cannot be held liable."

"I'm feeling shattered and just broke from everywhere, like no one is hearing," Sumit said.

"We feel very abused, bullied and unheard," Sucheta added.

"They can't brush their hands and say it's done."

A Current Affair sent Toowoomba Regional Council a number of questions about the Kapoor's case.

They told us it would be inappropriate for them to comment.

Watch the full video in the player above.

FULL TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL STATEMENT

As the matter is yet to be finalised, it would be inappropriate for Council to comment publicly at this time.