Tragic Handwara accident

The tragic road accident at Khikshi area in Handwara in which four members of a family lost their lives has exposed the non-availability of even basic facilities to people in several areas. According to reports, due to lack of drinking water facility in their village Rajpora, the deceased family members were travelling in a vehicle to fetch water on Monday evening. But the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge resulting in their death. Reports said Rajpora is located some 15 kms from Handwara town and the villagers have to trek half a kilometre to fetch the drinking water.

It is not about Rajpora only there are several other villages, where there is no drinking water facility. This despite the common notion that atleast drinking water is being supplied through taps to every village and amid official claims that a mission to provide the tap water to 100 percent households is nearing completion. The people in Rajpora say that this accident would not have occured and lives not lost if the drinking water facility was available in their village. They said that now after the tragic accident and public outcry the officials have started taking steps for making the drinking water available. Had such steps been taken earlier atleast the lives of the four members of the bereaved family could have been saved, they said.

The concerned department must take all steps to ensure that drinking water facility is made available in every village. Those not having this facility must get it at the earliest. While claims are being made day in and day out about extraordinary development on various fronts, the common people should not be deprived of basic facilities including the drinking water. The benefits of development must reach every area, every family and every citizen. Nobody should suffer because of the absence of basic facilities. Laying the water supply pipes is not enough.

Supplying the adequate water is equally important. The problem of drinking water scarcity is getting aggravated in a number of areas this summer. Reports are pouring in daily from more areas regarding shortage of drinking water. The residents allege that they suffer in scorching heat due to water shortage. The concerned authorities must pay attention towards this problem also and solve it at the earliest.