KARACHI, March 9: Many areas of the city faced an acute shortage of water on Sunday.

The worst-affected localities, among others, were Old city areas — Mithadar, Kharadar, Pakistan Chowk and Haqqani Chowk —, Bath Island, Clifton’s Block 4, Mehmoodbad No 2, different sectors of North Karachi, Baldia, Orangi, parts of Shershah, Malir, Malir Extension and the SITE industrial area.

In the wake of the persisting water shortage, private tankers were in high demand. They did a roaring business in the water-starved localities. The price ranged between Rs450 and Rs500 a tanker.

Private water tankers, which keep on running between hydrants and the water-starved localities, are making roads slippery due to their leaking nozzles and they have also become a major source of accidents in the city.

Water tankers have caused a number of fatal accidents in the recent past as drivers of water tankers usually indulge in rash and negligent driving.

Complaints about the supply of sub-soil unhygienic water by private tankers in the water-starved localities also continued to pour in newspaper offices.

Residents of North Karachi’s sectors 5-D, 7-D/2, 7-D/3, 11-C/1 and 11-C/2 complained that water shortage had become a matter of routine, but the officials concerned of the city government’s water and sanitation department had not taken measures to ensure smooth and uninterrupted supply on their turn of getting the supply.

This situation had compelled them to either buy private tankers at exorbitant rates or to consume subsoil unhygienic water at the cost of their health.

The weekly water-holiday system, which is being enforced in the areas hooked to the Indus source since October last year, was not observed in parts of the city on Sunday.

However, various localities city such as North Nazimabad, Federal B Area, Buffer Zone, Shadman Town and Nazimabad will not be supplied water on Monday because of the water-holiday system.