Amid heat wave, drinking water crisis hits Srinagar
Srinagar, Jul 1: Residents of various areas of the summer capital have complained of acute shortage of drinking water from last several days.
Residents in areas like Deyarwani, Mominabad, Mirabad, Bonpora, and Natipora said they are grappling with water scarcity in the ongoing heat wave.
“We are suffering due to drinking water shortage. Even the water tankers are unable to meet the growing demand,” said Abdul Rahim, a resident of Batamaloo.
In the old Srinagar city areas including Malik Sahab, Gojwara, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Soura, Lal Bazar, Khonakhan Dalgate the crisis has brought daily life to a standstill.
“There is no water to drink or to manage even essential chores like cooking and bathing. Our areas have always been in worst crisis since years. Authorities don’t prepare for summers in advance which takes a toll on us,” said Farooq Ahmad, a resident from Downtown.
As Srinagar continues to endure heat wave, the city has been hit by a severe drinking water crisis, leaving residents desperate for relief. The situation, already dire amid soaring temperatures, has further worsened following an official disruption in water supply due to repairs on the Sindh Power Canal being undertaken at Ganderbal.
In this regard, the Water Works Division Srinagar issued a public notice on June 30, informing residents that the raw water supply to Alusteng and Rangil Water Treatment Plants, which are the primary water sources for major parts of Srinagar, would be severely affected from July 1. The department warned that this would lead to significant potable water shortages across Srinagar city and adjoining areas.
According to the official notice, areas impacted include Zakura, Gulab Bagh, Alusteng, Shuhama, Hadoora, Chatterhama, Khonmoh, Habak, Naseem Bagh, Soura, Rainawari, Lal Bazar, Nowhatta, and dozens of other localities in Downtown, uptown and the outskirts. A senior official from the department acknowledged the water crisis and said that restoration work is underway. “Yes, the disruption at Sindh canal has impacted supply to many areas. Our teams are on the job, and we are trying to restore the supply as soon as possible,” the official said.
The official added that the department is dispatching water tankers to affected areas, although the demand has overwhelmed the available resources. “There is a huge demand from hospitals as well, and we are prioritising supply accordingly,” he said.
As Srinagar faces one of its harshest summers in recent years, residents hope for a swift resolution to a crisis that has left many struggling to access even a basic necessity of drinking water.
