Pipe damage: Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink!

Srinagar, Jan 15: Call it a double whammy; Srinagar is facing acute shortage of drinking water amid heavy snowfall.

Water supply was cut off to many areas after 700 MM water pipe was damaged near Awanta Bhawan at 90 feet road on Monday.  The pipe was catering to HMT, Batamaloo, Aluchi bagh, Qamerwari, Bemina, Safa Kadal, Karan Nagar, Shereen Bagh, Sakidafar, Eidgah and Nawa Kadal. 

Azhar Beigh, a resident of Batamaloo told The Kashmir Monitor that they face immense water shortage every year because the pipes are very old.

“Population has increased so has the demand for water. But the infrastructure remains the same. It breaks down every year affecting water distribution and leading to shortage”, he said

Mohammad Shafi, a resident of Karan Nagar said Kashmir is witnessing harsh winter and the unavailability of water has added to the woes of people. “Many people missed their prayers due to non-availability of water in the mosques and households”, he said.

Tasleema, a resident of Bemina said taps are running dry in their colony for the last few days. “It is very difficult to manage the routine without water. I did not sleep whole night waiting for water to store. In these freezing days we are made to suffer,” she said

Chief Engineer of Public Health Engineering, Kashmir, Abdul Wahid told The Kashmir Monitor that water supply was cut off for one day as 700 MM water pipe was damaged at 90 feet road Soura.

“We have fixed the damage pipe on the very day but it takes time to refill water. It will take one or two days to completely restore the water supply,” he said.

Wahid said if there is water shortage in any area, people can contact the control room for mobile water tankers. “People can contact us on these numbers – 01942452047, 2477207– in case of shortage,” he said.