Widespread damage to motor, water pipes in Baramulla

Baramulla, Dec 20: As the mercury plunges below freezing across north Kashmir, residents of Baramulla district are grappling with widespread damage to motor and water pipes.

As there seems no respite from the ongoing cold wave, the freezing and bursting of water pipes has intensified, disrupting essential water supply to scores of households.

Reports from various areas including Baramulla Old Town, Rafiabad, Delina, Tangmarg, and Sopore indicate that the extreme cold has also led to motor failures in water supply systems, adding to the residents’ woes.

Following damage to water pipes and damage to motors, the plumbers and technicians are overwhelmed with repair requests, while locals face delays in restoring normal water services.

“Following the water pipeline freezing, we have been without water for the last three days. There seems to be no respite as the cold shows no signs of relenting,” said Ali Muhammad Dar of Delina Baramulla.

“The pipes in our house froze overnight, and by morning, they had burst. Although each year we witness such a situation, this winter's freezing temperatures have made it worse,” said Farooq Ahmad, a resident of Fatehgarh Baramulla.

Like other parts of Kashmir, north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is witnessing intense cold, especially during the night.

The night temperatures have fallen to minus 6 degrees Celsius and the lives of people have been severely affected.

Following the cold wave, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Baramulla, Minga Sherpa issued a circular to address the potential impacts of a harsh winter this year.

As per the circular, the Block Medical Officers (BMOs) have been directed to conduct immediate surveys to identify vulnerable individuals, particularly elderly citizens and women, within their respective jurisdictions.

The BMOs have been directed to compile a database of such individuals and submit it to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Baramulla within 10 days.

Further, the BMOs have been asked to ensure hospitals are well-stocked with essential medicines to treat illnesses caused by colds and frostbites.

“The hospitals are expected to treat such cases as a priority to prevent casualties,” the circular reads.

An official from the Jal Shakti Department, Baramulla, urged residents to insulate their water pipes and avoid using boiling water to thaw frozen pipes, which often exacerbates the damage.