GILGIT: As extended power breakdowns in Punjab made life miserable in the summer months, Saeed, a businessman in Rawalpindi, took time out from work and returned home, only to find an equally agonising water crisis in Gilgit.
A resident of Gilgit, Saeed runs a small construction and supply business in Rawalpindi. Amid perpetual load-shedding in the region and temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius, Saeed decided to take a break and spend some time with his family in his hometown.
However, when Saeed reached Gilgit on Thursday, he found flashfloods had swept away the main water channel along with water pipes in Kargah Valley, suspending water supply throughout Gilgit Town.
The crisis is the second this week, making things difficult for residents when coupled with scorching summer temperatures.
“In Pindi, we had a power shortage. When I came here, there was a water shortage,” complained Saeed, adding the only activity he had done on vacation was fetching water from the river every day. “There is no water to drink, let alone for washing.”
Saeed is not the only one facing the crisis as at least half of Gilgit’s population has been subjected to the same situation for the past three days.
As the shortage escalates, people look for other options to store water. Those who can afford it purchase water tankers, while those who cannot bring contaminated water from river or channels.
“We cannot afford Rs2,000 per tanker,” said Afaq Khan, a resident.
Fazal Haq, a supervisor at the Water and Sanitation Agency, said a temporary supply of water had been stored in Barmas after the initial flashflood. “That was washed away in the second spell.”
Haq said another arrangement had been made to supply water to the affected areas. He added work was in progress and maintained the water supply would be restored soon.
In Gilgit–Baltistan (G-B), intense heat has begun to melt glaciers, which in turn is causing floods. The water level in lakes and rivers has also increased since May due to glaciers melting.http://tribune.com.pk/story/560741/water-crisis-caught-in-a-war-of-shortages/
Be First to Comment