LANDI KOTAL, Aug 2: The people in Landi Kotal braved water shortage as tankers’ strike entered its fourth consecutive day on Saturday.

Around 50 water tankers, which supply water to Landi Kotal and its adjoining areas from a private tube-well located at Ali Masjid, had gone on strike on Wednesday after one of their colleagues was beaten up by officials of the Khasadar Force. His tanker had also been damaged in the incident.

A spokesman for the water tanker association accused the political administration of trying to coerce them into supplying water free of cost.

A tanker charges Rs500 for a round trip. With the tanker drivers on strike, people in Landi Kotal had to hire other vehicles to haul water from nearby tube-wells. Residents receive a limited supply of water from the Mirza Hill water reservoir after the drying up of springs at Ali Masjid.

Three out of the five tube-wells in the Zakhakhel area are also out of order.